Journal 2024
1 January 2024 Monday
I
usually like to start off a new journal with my status. So here goes. I am 72
years old and living at 1633 Fernleaf Street, Salt Lake City Utah, which I have
been since 1996. I have lived here in the northwest corner of Salt Lake longer
than I have anywhere in my life. Kyle Foote, with whom I have a very complicated
relationship, lives in the basement studio apartment and I have four pups,
Maxx, TJ, Lulubelle, and Taco that make up my furry family, although
technically Taco belongs to Jim Dabakis. Kyle and Adrian Villalobos filed for
divorce last month and Adrian moved out and also asked me not to interact with
him any longer which has broken my heart.
I help Kyle with his Bewilder Brewery kitchen although I rarely get paid
and more often than not, and I helped keeping the staff paid. The staff consists of Adrian’s sister
Milagros Villalobos Negron and niece Luisana Negron as well as Maria Hernandez,
all Spanish speaking Columbian immigrants and a Latino girl named Sarah who
only works weekends. I wonder what
the new year will bring since they were
mainly part of my life because they are Adrian’s relatives.
As well as the Bewilder kitchen,
Kyle has another enterprise going at a truck wash which he will take over
tomorrow and eventually wants to have Adrian’s brother in law Luis Negron and
his brother Leonardo Negro work there as mechanics starting in February.
I don’t have much connection with my
actual family anymore with only my sister Donna left of my siblings. We live
completely separate lives. I am not that
involved in the Gay Community now that it’s become non-binary and gender
oriented rather than sexual orientated. Times change. It’s a new world one that
someone at my age has just passed me by.
I am healthier than most of my
remaining friends that are near my age and I am grateful for that, and I am
able to keep up the house, take care of my pups, and work some 25 hours or more
a week outside of the house. However, I know I have lost interests in a lot of
things due to changes with age.
I got up this morning to make some
biscuits but found that I was out of
baking powder. That was strange because I almost always have baking powder and
soda in my pantry. So instead, I made a waffle and sausage for my breakfast. I
wanted to give the pups a New Year Day treat consequently I cut up some of the
polish sausage for them and Lulubelle was so excited that she actually bit my
finger when I tried to give her a slice. She actually drew blood. Not a good
way to start a new year.
The air was bad today with an
inversion but not necessarily cold and still no precipitation of any kind. I
took the pups for a morning walk before getting dressed to go over to Roy
Zang’s apartment for a visit. He had asked me over for Christmas but I was not
in any mood then but said I would come over for New Years Day. He and Tony live
in the old Covey-Buckingham Apartment complex on South Temple which I think
have been renamed. I found a parking space on A street nearly in front of my
old apartment there. I had to walk down to South Temple as they lived at 241 South
Temple apartment 7, which ended up being on the top of four flights of stairs.
The old wooden floors creaked the entire climb and I was quite winded when I
reached their place.
Roy invited me in and already there
were Andy Dalrymple and Roy’s mother. Another fellow came shortly after me
named Byron Jay who I didn’t know but was definitely a queen and someone Roy
must have known for years. He was nice
but while eating I just listened to the conversations and did not contribute
much. I just felt like I needed to be there to show my friendship for Roy as he
and Tony made a New Year's Day Dim Sum brunch. It was all authentic Chinese and
even had chicken feet which I did not eat at all. I tried a bite of this and that but mainly ate the
sticky rice as everything else was too exotic for me. I only stayed an hour and then made my
excuses to leave and go back home.
First I stopped at Lucky’s to buy some
baking powder and some other groceries before coming back to the house where I
made myself two burritos to get the taste of the dim sum and sushi out of my
mouth. Kyle came up and said he was hungry and wanted more of the Shepherd’s
pie and gravy I made. Kyle said the party he went to was nice but he didn’t get
home until 4 in the morning. He was still in his lounge clothes because he said
this was the first time he didn’t need to be somewhere. He ended eating the
rest of the pie and I laid down for a nap and must have been tired for I slept
for 2 hours.
After getting back up, I walked the pups again, fed them their supper, and ate a
bowl of clam chowder while I watched the news. There was a large earthquake in
Japan and I guess nearly 300,000 migrants were processed coming in to America
at the Southern Boarder in December. The news keep talking about it being a
“crisis” instead of an economic boon that all that labor could be. My attitude of course is influence by my
involvement with Adrian’s family and Maria Hernandez. They are here to work and
better their lives. To me the real crisis is the many homeless who subsist by
begging rather than being employed as the ones who I encounter are too mentally
ill or addicted to drugs to work. Oh well.
Here’s hoping for health and security in
this brand new year. Although I am so very melancholy over the loss of Adrian
in my life and the dream of having a little family in my old age. Nothing lasts forever. Grateful that accordingly
many I care about are still here to celebrate the coming New Year. One of the
melancholy parts of being elderly at this time of year is missing so many
friends and family, knowing they are not here anymore but are just memories that tugs at the heart.
2 January 2024 Tuesday
I
woke up from a dream that I was sitting at a kitchen table with Michael Aaron
who said he had an ad for Beyond Stonewall ready and I said that I didn’t have
the energy any longer to put on a retreat and that so many of those who would
help me are dead. Weird dream consequently I got up and made some biscuits from
scratch with milk gravy for breakfast to have with my coffee. The biscuits weren’t
very good. I am out of practice or my taste had changed.
I walked the pups and then went to
pick up Luisana to take to work. However once at the apartment I waited 10
minutes and no one came down. I was worried hence I went up and knocked on the
door and after a bit Milagros answered and said that both she and Luisana were
ill and wouldn’t be coming in. I called
Kyle who had already left to be at the Truck Wash and could not leave because
it was his first day there meeting with the owner and others. He said that he
thought the kitchen couldn’t be opened and to just go home. Instead, I went to
Sutherlands and bought more mice traps as I had seen them running around in the
kitchen and bedroom.
As I was leaving, Kyle called me
back, frustrated, but said he tried getting a hold of Maria Hernandez to come
in early and said to go ahead and open the kitchen. It was nearly 10:30 by that
time, consequently I had to hustle because besides turning everything on and
making soup and beer cheese, I had to cut up produce as we threw out a lot New
Years eve. I called Kyle to ask
questions on serving certain food items and while I had seen them made before I
was never a “line cook” subsequently I had to make sure food was going out the
way it should.
Tuesday are generally slow and it
was the day after New Year’s, accordingly I was confident that we wouldn’t get
slammed and I should be able to handle it which, while busier than I thought, I
managed. The only real hiccup was that the order printer wouldn’t print because
evidently the power went off temporarily yesterday but Cody McKendrick the
brewery co-owner, managed to fix that. I
was busy the entire time until Maria showed up around 1:30, which was the
earliest she could get here but then it was getting a little busier and the two of us managed until Kyle showed up at
4:30 and said I could go home. I didn’t argue as I was really tired on my feet
as I am a 72 year old man.
When I came home, I found Persephone
with a dead squirrel in her mouth... I closed the cat door to the house
quickly but she dropped it by the
entrance and I had to take care of it...ugh I hate disposing even of dead mice,
so this was Traumatic for me... I am not the Great White Hunter.
3 January 2024
Wednesday
I
worked by myself today at Bewilder from 10 until around 1:30 when the gals came
in. Kyle this morning said that Milagros and Luisana wouldn’t be coming in
until 2 this afternoon but said that Maria was supposed to come in early at 11.
Not sure what happened but Maria didn’t
come to work until her regular time consequently I was by myself doing set up
and working both as a line cook as well as a fry cook. An order of frozen goods and produce also
came in that I had to put away by myself. We had a little lunch rush which with two people it wouldn’t have been
bad but with just me, it was hectic, especially when I had five orders all at
once. However, I cranked it all out and
I was pretty good for an old man.
When the girls came in, Luisana was
coughing pretty bad . Consequently I went to Smiths and bought her some
Robitussin cough medicine and Alka-Seltzer plus some mandarin oranges. At the
pharmacy they gave me two face masks that I brought back for Milagros and Luisana.
This morning before going to work I
ordered an ink cartridge for my HP laser Jet 1020 printer as it had run out
from all the printing I have been doing of my journals. I saw that I had two
dead mice from traps I set in the kitchen and the bedroom. I just can’t be overrun
by mice.
After coming home, I tried to rest some
but had to grind up the roast I made for the pups and cook some rice for their
supper. I fed them early as that I went back to Bewilder at 4:30 to help out
with the catered even though Kyle was surprised to see me and didn’t think I’d
be back after working this morning by myself.
But I knew :Luisana was not well and they would need some extra hands. As
that Luisana has either a cold or flu that is going around, I brought cloth masks
for everyone. I am back to wearing a mask which doesn't seem weird anymore.
At work I breaded about 20 or more egg plants
for schnitzels and then stuck around when at 6:30 the event began thus I could serve
beer cheese on pretzel bites. I think only half of the people the event planned
for actually came, but we got paid either way. Also, the brewery was opened for
regular Trivia night and the parking lot was packed when I left about 7:30. I
was exhausted but amazed at what I can still do..
Kyle asked me to come in this
Saturday instead of Sunday as that the brewery will be closed that day for a
“deep cleaning.” Tomorrow I have to go help Mike Romero look after Coco while
he goes to have his catheter changed out. That will be about 12:30 until around
two therefore not sure who will be picking up someone from the apartment. I seriously
doubt that Kyle acknowledges how much he depends on me to keep his
business afloat.
4 January 2024 Thursday
There
was a skiff on snow on the ground when I took the pups for a walk this morning
but it was probably just from a mist in the air. I went to pick Milagros up to go into work.
Earlier Kyle called and said starting Monday there will be a new schedule for Milagros
and Luisana which sounds like they both will be both coming in to work in the
morning. I sent Kyle the work hours from after Christmas as he didn’t keep an
accurate one during the holidays.
On Christmas Eve Kyle and Luisana worked
accordingly. I could take Lucianny to Mama Mia and they closed early at 4. We
were closed for Christmas Day. On the 26thMilagros
only worked 10-2, a half day because she was sick. I worked 4 hours but Kyle
and Maria worked 2-10. Wednesday Luisana worked 12 hours, Milagros and Maria 8
hours and I worked 4 hours. Thursday Milagros worked 12 hours, Luisana and
Maria worked 8 hours and I worked 4 hours. On Friday Luisana went home sick and
worked 5 hours, and Milagros didn’t get here until 3. Maria worked her regular
shift and I worked 5 hours. Saturday was my day off consequently I don’t know
the hours for Milagros, Luisana, and Sarah.
At work Milagros set up the kitchen
and I started making chicken schnitzel for most of the morning until I left at
12:15 to go over to Mike Romero’s to babysit Coco while Mike went to have his
catheter changed. I came back at 2:30 to finish up what was left. Milagros said
that Luisana was still sick and she wasn’t coming in tonight.
At one point Owen the server came
back and asked if we had any chicken schnitzel and I said we had plenty but
Kyle had taken it off their computer as he thought we were out. I called Kyle
and told him there was plenty of schnitzel as I had just made nearly 40. I
asked him to translate to Milagros that we had an order for one but it wouldn’t
show up on the screen until Kyle puts it back in.
Then Kyle started being really shitty to
me and frustrated, started calling me names again and I just hung up on him and
left. I am so sick of him belittling me after all that I have done for him and
not only haven’t I been paid, but I have also spent my own money to keep the
place operating. I am thus done with him and if it wasn’t for the Negron’s and
Maria I would just quit all together and let him figure out how to run the
place without my assistance and using my credit union account for payday, which
is tomorrow.
Then at home to top things off while
I was feeding the pups the doorbell rang and answering it there was a woman
bill collector for debts that Kyle owed to Beck Sanitation for Loco Burger and
Bewilder amounting to $1100. They were going to file a lawsuit against Vibe Factory
the company that Kyle started using under my name. I was blindsided but was told if the bills
were paid now a lawsuit could be avoided and knowing how much lawyers would
cost and interest I chose to pay the bills out of my own money.
I texted Kyle and said I need my
credit card back. “You can leave it on the kitchen table. I just paid $1100 to
keep you from having a lawsuit from Beck Sanitation for Vibe Faktory.” He
responded back, “You should not have paid that. Why didn’t you call me? I was
negotiating terms with them. You did not need to pay in full.” I wrote back
“Because I didn’t want to get sued and you never tell me what is really going
on. You only call me names.”
He replied, “This is a low revenue
period. We pay less in low revenue and more in high revenue. In November when
we had more money, I paid off everything. When there is less money we have to
negotiate terms.” I said, “I hope you
have money to pay the workers because I am stone broke now. “They just came to
my door right a few minutes ago.”
“You should have called me while they
were there at the door. He also responded “I do not always call you names.
That’s an exaggeration. You get very stressed and you get snippy. I asked you a
question and you got upset. When did you pay Becks and why? You didn’t even
tell me that they had contacted you.” I answered, “I was not snippy or stressed
but you jumped all over me again after all I have done for you this week.”
“You absolutely know that you were
snippy. I jumped on you because you were snippy. I needed to know why it wasn’t
showing in the computer so I could fix that problem too.”
“Well, if I am so snippy maybe you don’t
want me there anymore. Yes I do everything wrong.”
He wrote “I don’t want you to be
dramatic and stressed out.” That pissed me off and at that point I just wrote
“Bye”
He replied back, “You do not do
everything wrong. Stop being dramatic. What do you mean by bye? Do you want me
to leave?” I responded, “I don’t appreciate being called dramatic. ”Then stop
being dramatic and I won’t call you dramatic. I think it’s best if you don’t
work a fixed shift of any kind at the restaurant. It’s stressing you out too
much. I’d rather be closed if the girls can’t work than put you through the
frustration. I love having your help, but you shouldn’t be working the line or
dealing with the servers. If you want to help do schnitzels or a small amount
of prep that’s fine. But showing up at 10 and getting the line ready should be
left to the girls. I want you in my life as a friend and family and emotional
support. But if you’re stressed yourself, you can’t be a calming and supporting
influence on me.”
I said, “If you don’t want me there
anymore fine. You are more stressed about me being there than I am. I haven’t
been paid in weeks and haven’t complained and usually have to subsidize you
anyway. I have done my best to keep the place going. I am not stressed at work
except having no one to communicate with when there is an issue. I am more
stressed about people showing up at the house looking for you. I feel
blindsided and stupid. All I have ever wanted was for you not to call me names.
I have never called you a name because I love you. So, I will just stay home
now and out of your way.”
“Good Lord. Stop. I want you in my life to
help. Please reread my message and note that I love having you in my life. I
appreciate your help. But you and I do NOT
make a good boss/employee team. You can be at the restaurant as much as
you want. Do not stay home. Do not stay out of the way. But realize I need your
emotional support more than I need your labor in the restaurant. I need you
calm and supportive with me. We’re family not coworkers”
I wrote “I never thought of myself as an
employee but family.” He wrote back “I
want you in my life but being at the restaurant is not your responsibility.
It’s mine. This week there was a fluke. It happens. Who could have anticipated
everyone getting sick at the same time? You can choose to be there as much as
you want. You can help in any way that you want. We all love you there. I love you
there. But you are family and I do not want to lose that.”
I just wrote “I just need to know that what
I do is of value to you.”
“You being my emotional rock is the most
valuable thing I could ever hope for. Anyone can learn to bread chicken not anyone
can be my family.”
I soften and said, “And I will always
be”. Kyle wrote, “That is all either of us need. I’m going to focus on work
here. I love you and I’ll be home after we close. I shuffled the girl’s shifts
around so there will be two people here all time starting next week.”
I was too wound up to watch any
television and I just went to bed, wondering how I am going to get by this
month with $1100 less . I suppose my line of credit and visa card will take
another hit but at least they are not maxxed out.
I needed something to take my mind off
of what happened today. Consequently I took down my journal from 1990 and began
to transcribe it. I was 38 years old, living at the Buckingham Apartments with
Mike Pipkin as my flaky roommate and just had Terry Johnson, who was also a
flaky boyfriend, moved in with me. It was a weird time for me.
Kyle came home around 9 o’clock subsequently
they must have closed early and I heard him come upstairs and he entered my
bedroom while I was already in bed. He came and laid his head on me and
embraced me, which he never really had before. I could tell he was weepy and he basically
reiterated what he had texted me about how much he loved me and I was his
family and that was all that mattered to him. Again, he said I was his rock and
he needed me in his life as his emotional support. My heart softened again. Ten
years from now it won’t matter whether I am a fool or not.
5 January 2024 Friday
I
had weird, vivid dreams but as I didn’t remember most of them I won’t write
anything. I slept in until 6:30 which is kind of unusual for me and only got up
to fix some coffee and oatmeal which I ate after I returned to my bed in order to
post my “wisdom” for my friends before finally getting up to shower and walk
the pups. It was snowing slightly as we walked around the block but it had been
too warm for anything to really stick.
I went and retrieved Lucianny to
take her into work and she is still not feeling well, coughing a lot. I hope
she doesn’t catch bronchitis. Her brother and sister are still in school and
high school is a breeding ground for viruses.
Nonetheless, upon arriving at Bewilder I
saw that a delivery of supplies were sitting outside the front doors. I had
Luisana just go inside and set up the kitchen while I tackled bringing in 100 lbs.
of onions, some other produce, and meat items that couldn’t be left out in the
cold. There were 6 large containers of frying oil also. There was so much that
it took me nearly an hour to put it all away in the walk in, and the freezer in
the bodega, which is what Kyle calls the storeroom. I guess its Spanish.
I also had to carry frozen items down to
the cellar freezers which Kyle hates for me to do because the stairs are steep
and not lit well. I know what I can still do and what I can’t, and he doesn’t
have to know everything. Besides, I had to, because I couldn’t let Luisana, who
is very sick and just needed to rest.
As it started really snowing as the
day progress we had hardly any business thus
I did up all the pots and pans, baked two trays of pretzel bites, and acted as
a fry cook whenever we had an order. I had Luisana just go rest and sit in
Kyle’s office chair while I looked after the place until we had an order. Maria
Hernandez came in around 1 pm and I had her put my telephone number as a
contact as I said that I didn’t want her walking from the Front Runner in the
snow and I would come get her.
Kyle then called me and asked me to
come out to Bubba’s Truck Wash so he could give me the amounts for payroll this
week. If he is worried about me being stressed, it’s going to the credit union
to get the gals their salaries as I am never sure there is going to be money in
the account to cover it all. I deposited $1,483.68 into my checking and pulled
out $409 for Luisana, $567 for Milagros, $422.40 for Maria and $84.48 for
Sarah. Of course, that amount didn’t include any money for me. I also stopped
at the downtown Smith’s Marketplace and bought a case of water and a 12 pack of
cokes for the girls
On the way back to Bewilder with the
payroll, Kyle called and said Milagros would need a ride thus I had to go back
to Redwood Road to retrieve her and it was still snowing a bit.
After dropping her off it was nearly 3
before I was able to come back to the house. Taco just can’t believe we weren’t
going for an afternoon walk. I said it’s snowing out and it’s a wet snow but he pouted anyway.
I laid down to take a nap and my lower
back began to ache probably from all the heavy lifting I did this morning. When
the snow cleared, Taco guilted me into taking him and the rest of the gang for
their afternoon walk even though it was
still kind of misting snow. He said life is short and lets enjoy our time
together while we can. He is one smart pup.
I fixed the pups their rice and
ground roast and I had a single serving of Red Baron Pizza that I added
pineapple and red and green peppers to it. I watched some of the news and its
predicted we will have several storms this coming week and nationally the
Supreme Court stated they would rule on whether Colorado can ban Trump on the
ballot for his part in the insurrection and the vile and evil Wayne LaPierre
resigned from the NRA just before his corruption trial.
I spent much of the evening typing
up my 1990 journal from the handwritten pages until Kyle came home around 8:30.
He wanted to visit about his new enterprises like having Bubba Truck wash also
be a location for U-Haul business and also a lot for used cars. He also said
that the deal to manage the Orem donut shop is probably a done deal. I just sat
and listened, to show I was supportive. I didn’t say anything as I didn’t want
to be negative as Mom always was about new ventures, but I was not overly
enthusiastic either.
I can only hope he is more successful
with these enterprises than he was with Build Team and the Turo Car rental
business. But I am skeptical after just shelling out a $1000 to keep a lawsuit from
being filed for not paying his bills. Sadly, I am all he has left to share his
dreams with now that he lost Adrian. Not
a day goes by that I don’t start to weep over Adrian being gone.
6 January 2024 Saturday.
I
had kind of a restless night as my lower back made it so I couldn’t get
comfortable and I used a heating pad on it a lot. It’s just aches but not
incapacitating. At my age, the only thing that gets stiff anymore is my back. Some
mice rattling around woke me at 5:30 consequently I just got up and made my
coffee and fixed some pancakes but not really that hungry. I picked Milagros up
to take her to work at 10. It was slightly misting snow. Kyle last night said
that Sarah, the weekend dishwasher, would be coming in at 10 from now on and
work until closing. However tomorrow, on Sunday, the kitchen will be closed
because the Brewery is closed for a deep cleaning.
Milagros and I met Sarah at the
Brewery and opened up the kitchen. Sarah doesn’t take any initiative to do
anything but I am not her boss and I don’t speak Spanish to be able let her
know that she should be helping set up the kitchen and not just wait to do washing
dishes. She and Milagros were chattering like magpies, quite loudly all morning,
and I had no idea what that was all about, although at one point I could hear Milagros
weeping. I called Kyle concerned that something might be wrong but after he
called Milagros he told me everything was fine that they were both being
emotional and with me not privy to the conversation I didn’t have a clue about
what was up with them.
Kyle had left for the Truck wash at
7 this morning because the place has a contract to wash a fleet of the U of U
shuttle buses. He has an Hispanic couple who
had worked there every Saturday for 10 years, apparently, to help, plus
the kid who works there all week. It had to be cold with spraying water in an
open bay.
Nonetheless, at Bewilder. Kyle told
Milagros she needed to be teaching Sarah to be her helper but I did some of the
frying when we got a little busy. Otherwise, I sat in the office as my lower
back was giving me fits. At 1:30 Luisana drove herself to work consequently I
didn’t have to pick her up hence I just went home to lay in bed with a heating
pad. About 4, I got up to take the pups for a walk while I could. It was breezy
out which made the walk really cold. It had to be below freezing. I fed the
pups their supper and had a pimento loaf and cheese sandwich myself before
retiring to the bedroom to finish typing up January 1990 and begin February. I
had completely forgotten my relationship with a user loser named Terry Johnson
while I was living at the Buckingham apartments. He gave me Hepatitis B so I
should have remembered him.
Kyle had gone to Orem to work out a
deal with the Bismarck Donut owner down there and when he came home around 8 he
came into my room to visit about his day. He said he also talked to this couple
who had a food court down there which he might help them start a pizza
operation there.
At one point he asked if I had heard
from Adrian lately and I said I hadn’t since Christmas Eve and said that I
thought Adrian wanted to distance himself from us. Kyle said he thought I was
projecting so I finally said I wasn’t, that Adrian had asked me not to message him
anymore and that he unfriended me on Face book because I am a painful reminder
of what he lost. Kyle was surprised because he didn’t think that Adrian would
cut all ties with me which meant all communication with Kyle. Kyle did say he
heard from the family that Adrian had moved out of their apartment and is
renting a room somewhere and is working nights now, instead of early mornings and
making more money. Not a day goes by that I have a little pain in my heart of
not being with Adrian. But I am superfluous to his life now.
7 January 2024 Sunday.
I
lounged around in bed all morning with my back still really sore but around 11
I decided I had to shovel the snow that fell last night. My back still ached
but there was about 4 inches of new snow on the ground. The Bahena’s were out
shoveling also and one of the boys offered to help me and I was grateful for
that but then Kyle was dressed and came out and started up the snow blower and
did the driveway and sidewalks. I had put on a crock pot of navy beans last night
and there is nothing like a bowl of beans and cornbread after clearing snow
from the porch, driveway, and sidewalks like a good neighbor should. I had to then walk the pups on several
sidewalks that were not cleared that have a lot less footage than my 100
feet. The first real snow fall looks lovely,
however. I talked to Peter Nash on my
walk and he said his wife had a rough Christmas with Covid.
Bewilder was closed for a “deep
cleaning” for their anniversary party next Saturday thus the kitchen was closed
and no one worked today.
At home I mainly typed up my journal
from February 1990 all day and Kyle took the Negron’s down to the Truck Wash
place around noon to show them what it entailed. When He came home we went to
get a Dr. Pepper at Common Cents and after walking the pups for a second time I
was done going out for the day. It was a quiet first Sunday of the year. I was
married to Fran Fuchs on this day in 1977.
8 January 2024 Monday
Kyle
wanted me to come down to the Truck Wash after dropping off Milagros at
Bewilder to pick up some supplies and go to the meat market to get 10 pounds of
chicken breasts. At Bewilder Maria Hernandez was already there, having come in
around 8:30 to start cleaning the fryers and changing out the oil. She and Milagros worked together while I
prepared the soup of the day and beer cheese.
My back was still tender but I was able
to make 37 chicken schnitzels and fry them up before heading home around 2. It
was kind of a slow day and they didn’t actually need me. Around noon Kyle
called me and asked me to bring him a grilled cheese sandwich and some soup to
the car wash as he was there by himself and hadn’t eaten breakfast. He said he
was really hungry accordingly I drove out there again before returning to
finish the schnitzels.
At home I walked the pups for a second
time after taking a brief nap. The weather had cleared from yesterday and the
sidewalks mostly free of snow and while it was beautifully sunny out with clear
blue skies it was cold out, down in the 20’s. I spent the rest of the day feeding
the pups and typing up my journal from March 1990. The new printer cartridge
and my reading glasses came yesterday but I haven’t felt like dealing with the
printer yet. Kyle came home around 8 and
went straight to his space thus he must have been tired from a long day
9 January 2024 Tuesday
They
issued a winter weather warning for this late afternoon but it was clear, just
gloomy for much of the day. I picked Milagros up as I guess Monday and Tuesdays
are Luisana’s days off. Milagros’ only day off will be Sunday for now on. Maria
was already at Bewilder when we arrived and I suppose my only job anymore is to
prepare the soup of the day and the beer cheese. Maria was slicing up onions to
be sautéed and Milagros was making a batch of sauces. There was little for me
to do, so I called Kyle who was at the truck wash and asked if he wanted me to
bring him lunch, which he did. I left after giving him his lunch and went on
home where I was by noon. The two women are quite capable of running the
kitchen especially as Tuesdays are slow and probably would be with the storm
coming in.
At the house I spent much of the
afternoon typing up March 1990’s journal. It’s kind of slow going editing,
clarifying, and proofreading my hand written manuscript. I have not deleted
anything but I did alter some passages to just make them clearer as when I
wrote them often I was tired at night and not always completely coherent. I
walked the pups for their second walk of the day and possibly mine, fed them
and then hunkered down as a quick blizzard blew in at 6 o’clock with gusts of
wind. The power went out briefly but came right back on and thank God I didn’t
lose any of what I was working on. It
was not a fit night out for man or beast and I hope people brought their critters
inside and hunkered down and didn’t have to on the roads in the storm.
Kyle came home around 9 and came
upstairs briefly. He had to attend a meeting down in Orem and was caught on the
road during the whiteout storm that hit Utah County about the time he had to be
there. I had earlier told him to let Maria know she can spend the night here if
the weather is too treacherous to take the front runner back to Ogden. Kyle
said however that after the storm passed the roads were good and that it was
just freezing out.
I forgot to mention that I was quoted
in a Salt Lake Tribune article called “Can Utah Pride Center regain trust after
a turbulent year? Community members and past employees talk about history of
the LGBTQ+ organization — and what its future might hold”. The feature came out
on January 7th and was written by Palak Jaywal.
She used many of the quotes from an interview I did with her back in November
2022. All the quotes from younger “LGBTQ+” folks were all on how upset they
were that the Center did not deal with Trans and People of Color issues not
appreciating the fact there wouldn’t be a Pride Center if not for us older Gays
and Lesbians. And the world wags on. Happy Birthday John Cunningham [1951-2007]
Forever young and Forever in my heart
RIP until we are together again.
10 January 2024
Wednesday
I
took Luisana into work to open up. Maria seemed really tired and I bet she was
having to come down from Ogden on the Front Runner, which I know takes at least
an half an hour if not longer. I only stayed until 11:30 after bringing Kyle
some lunch to the Truck Wash. I did clear off a path on the steps and walkway
that leads from the parking lot to our entry into the kitchen. I was worried
about the girls perhaps slipping. I stayed home and finished up the month of
March for 1990 but was too tired to begin April. Besides, I had to retrieve
Milagros and take her to Bewilder at 2 this afternoon. The pups didn’t get
their second walk because a squall blew in around 3:30 and lasted for several
hours blowing fine snow. We weren’t about to go out in it. Kyle is working by
himself from 8 to 4 at the truck wash because his one flaky employee quit who
wasn’t reliable anyway. Therefore, it’s on me to take the Negron’s to work in
the mornings and sometimes in the afternoon. Strange how it feels so different
without the Adrian connection.
Kyle came home around 5:30 and it was
still a blizzard out but he wanted to print off instructions for the final
Divorce documents. He put in the new ink cartridge that I bought and which came
several days ago. Afterwards he went off to Bewilder to see how the gals were
doing. I wondered if there was any business at the Wednesday trivia game night
due to the weather. He said he wanted to take them home in his vehicle. I
finally retired around 10 not because I was tired but just needed to lie down.
My back is still very stiff and I am not very flexible. I hope this isn’t the
new normal.
11 January 2024
Thursday
Taco
is an unhappy puppy because I won't take him walking this morning in the falling snow and through
the covered sidewalks. He has to learn to be disappointed some days in the
winter. I went to retrieve Luisana in a snow storm but not a blizzard. It was
just slow going but not treacherous. Maria was already there when we arrived a
few minutes after 10. I had brought a
snow shovel from home because the path towards our entrance doesn’t get cleared
and I was worried that the gulls might slip and I also knew that if we had
deliveries it would be a mess. So besides helping open up the kitchen, I was
shoveling snow a bit with my sore back.
At 11:30 I called Kyle to see if he wanted some lunch and as he had some
Comcast guys working there he asked me to bring them some lunch too, which I
did. Kyle said that a line of credit he applied for was approved for $20,000 but
might not be in his account in time for payroll consequently it looks like I will have to use my funds again as he said
the past few weeks have been dismal and he had to pay rent out of what the
kitchen did make.
On the way home I stopped at Luckys
because I really didn’t have much in the house and I probably spent too much
around $70 but I am not going to live forever. Once home, the pups were dying
for a walk because they didn't get a morning one hence I had to clear a path
first for them to be able to take them. Snow is really hard on us old people. It’s
not just that it's cold and inconvenient but if you are a homeowner you have to
go and shovel the sidewalks as well as the driveway. I have a hundred feet of
sidewalk as I have a corner lot . I had to shovel by hand after the snow
blower’s battery died consequently I cleared the driveway the best I could subsequently
I could even bring the trash barrel out to the curb.
Before the snow blower died I almost ran
over a dead squirrel on the sidewalk. What a mess that would have been if he
would have been completely covered with snow. As it was I was able to remove
the little guy. I don't know if he froze to death of whether Persephone caught
him. Nevertheless, I was able to walk Taco, Maxx, and Lulubelle. TJ didn't want
to go and plow through the snow. Smart pup. On the way home I suddenly got
really weary and didn't know if my legs were going to hold up. Snow is really
hard on us old people.
I stayed home and after that I tried to
nap before feeding the pups. I then worked the rest of the evening typing up my
April 1990 journal. My back still aches when I bend over for anything and
certainly hope this isn’t the new normal as a sign of my old age.
Kyle came in after I had gone to bed;
accordingly, I didn’t get a chance to talk to him any this evening. I know he
is hoping that the Bewilder Brewery’s 4th anniversary party this
Saturday will be profitable for the kitchen. I just hope the snow storms that
are predicted for Friday through Sunday doesn’t keep people away. I think of
Adrian nearly every day and get misty when I do. I know he’s strong and
resilient and will be fine. I just miss him and wonder if Kyle thinks his life
is better without Adrian in it.
12 January 2024 Friday
It
was a busy day for me but at least it didn’t snow until after I went to bed. I
was able to walk the pups this morning which was good because I was too busy to
give them a second walk. I retrieved Luisana
who I can tell is feeling better but has a lingering cough. She asked me if I
had an iron which I did and I said I would later bring it to her. A large
supply order came this morning which the girls but away so I didn’t have to and
was glad because of my aching back. Seems that we are switching to frozen
chicken breasts consequently I laid out about 48 of them to thaw accordingly I
could make schnitzels. Tomorrow is Bewilders 4th anniversary and we
needed to be prepared for a large crowd as long as tomorrow’s storm doesn’t keep
people away.
I brought Kyle his lunch at the truck
wash however instead of eating it, he wanted to, actually I think I needed to
tell me all that he has going business wise. He said he needed me to be his
cheerleader more than anything else.
He basically has three enterprises;
Bewilder, the truck wash, and the Bismarck donut shop in Orem and also down
there a kind of food court enterprise. Bewilder is basically a set deal with
everyone trained so he doesn’t need to be there that much, and Orem after set up
has people down there he can rely on, it’s only the Truck Wash he said that
will take most of his attention as he wants the location to be a car dealer lot,
a U-Haul location, as well as a mechanic shop. I just listened and hoped he
knew what he is doing because I certain don’t have a head for business.
His line of credit must have come
through for $20,000 although he didn’t actually say but he wanted me to deposit
over $3000 in the credit union for Payroll. Milagros was getting $587.40 for 36
½ hours, Luisana $435.60 for 35 hours, Maria $429.00 for 33.5 hours and Sarah $126.72 for 10 hours. Of course, again I
wasn’t paid but he gave me a $1000 towards the money owed me and he also wanted me to pull out $500 for
Adrian. He said that he agreed to give Adrian $500 for several months because
Adrian said he wasn’t paid anything for the time spent at Bewilder. Although I
had spent several thousands of dollars on Adrian while he was living with me
including free rent but I didn’t say a word about it because what does it matter?
I did it out of love for him and I won’t begrudge it.
It was nearly 1 when Kyle remembered
that we needed brats accordingly he sent me to the Brickyard Harmon’s and I
bought $100 worth that I brought back to the kitchen where Milagros showed up
to join Maria and Luisana. Her brother in law gave her a ride. I left and went
to the Pioneer Road branch of my credit union to do payroll. Kyle’s card
cleared so I was able to deposit the money in to checking account and do five withdrawals.
After returning to the kitchen the chicken
breasts were thawed enough for me to start putting them through the press and
then breading them. It takes about two hours to do them all but Milagros fried
them consequently I didn’t have to do that. It was after 4 when I finally left
for home but first I stopped at the Rose Park Smith and bought some more Purina
Beggin dog treats and Nudges Grillers as I was almost out. I also bought four
12 packs of coke, sprite, and Dr. Pepper to bring to the kitchen tomorrow.
I was pretty tired when I got home
and it had turned dark and gray out because of the impending storm consequently
I didn’t walk the dogs but just fed them instead and then retired to my room. I
did call back Jim McMillan who had been trying to visit. We talked for about a
half hour, getting caught up on our lives. TJ Otaka was feeling better and Jim
had recovered from that nasty fall he had. I actually was too fatigued to visit
much or to work on the computer any accordingly after climbing into bed, I
watched a little television, read posts
on Face Book, and went to sleep around 9 surrounded by my pups.
The tribune had an article where the
Mormon Church threatened to sue Bewilder Brewery for the use of Deseret IPA on one of their can labels. “The word itself,
“Deseret” can be found in the Book of Mormon and means “honey bee” and the
brewery’s beer Deseret IPA used honey as part of the recipe. The newsletter
obtained by AXIOS read, “Unfortunately a large tax exempt Utah-based entity
wasn’t pleased with our use of the word Deseret. We have been asked to drop our
Trademark and discontinue the brand.”
13 January 2024
Saturday
There
was just a light dusting of pellet snow on the ground when I walked Maxx and
Taco. TJ and Lulubelle didn’t want to go and I’m not making TJ go anymore when
he doesn’t come downstairs as perhaps he doesn’t like the cold on his old
bones. Luisana said her dad would take her in this morning but I had to be
there before 10 to let the girls in because I have the key to unlock the door. However,
both Sarah and Luisana came in a bit after 10. Today was Bewilders big Fourth Anniversary
celebration and the weather was clear enough that we were slammed during the
noon rush. At one point we were backed up because one order had 4 Reubens and
they can only be made one at a time and they take 4 minutes each just to grill.
Sarah started helping Luisana on the line because they could speak Spanish
together and I worked the frying end of operations and help them when they
needed it at their end. We were hustling from about 11:30 until 1:30 when Kyle
showed up then. I then had to leave to retrieve Milagros. At the apartment I
saw Adrian’s car parked in a stall therefore he must have been over. It made me
melancholy to see his KIA but not him. After dropping her off, I left to go on
home. I hoped the rest of the day was as busy for the cash flow which we need
and Kyle expected.
At the house I did some slight
cleaning, walked only Maxx and TJ again, and tried to relax but mostly typed up
my April 1990 entries. We weren’t hit with any snow storm out here by the
airport but I heard north of Salt Lake was pounded. In fact, the news reported
that a warm front would turn the snow to rain during the middle of the night. I
went to bed around 10 and around 10:30 I heard the garage open and Kyle came
home. It must have been a busy night for him to have stayed so late as I
imagine he gave Milagros and Luisana a ride home.
14 January 2024 Sunday
I
heard the garage door open and close several times in the early hours thus not
sure what was going on with Kyle, whether he went out to trick or had someone
over. I am sure he had plenty of stress he needed to get rid of but that and the
sound of rain woke me up. Rain at night in the middle of January seems odd when
it had been snowing for the past couple of days. I know those who love snow are
unhappy but at least you don’t have to shovel rain. I think the sound of rain
is soothing. The pups were all sleeping soundly consequently all is right in my
little corner of the world. I went back to sleep but got up after 6 to fix some
breakfast of waffles and coffee. I wonder when will I l get tired of waffles as
I eat them almost daily. The little $3 waffle iron I bought at Deseret
Industries sure is getting used.
I stayed home from Bewilder and
finished typing up my Journal from April 1990 and also posted on Face Book
about the death of Darrell Webber and trial in April of that year. I only
walked Maxx and Taco this morning as the others didn’t want to go. In the
afternoon I needed a break from the computer therefore I drove into the city
and dropped in on Bewilder. Luisana and Sarah were the only ones there but Kyle
soon returned with lunch for himself and the girls. Luisana said they were
super busy yesterday after I left as there wasn’t any let up all night. Kyle said
they made close to $3000. I only stayed a bit and helped weigh out some corned
beef because they were down to just one packet left. When it started snowing I
left for home but stopped and got some gas at the Rose Park Smith as it was
$2.53 a gallon. I had a 20cent per gallon discount subsequently I filled up the
tank. I walked just the two pups again and after that stayed in for the rest of
the evening. I’ve been eating some bean and meat burritos I made the other day
and fed the pups a mixture of rice, cornbread, deli ham and left over ground
roast. They eat better than most people I fear, but they are my responsibility
and they are no longer predators that can get their own food.
Kyle came home around 6 and I was lying
in bed at 7 when the doorbell rang. The lights in the house were off and I
wasn’t going to answer as I was already in my nightshirt. However, Kyle must
have because he later came up and said some guy who identified himself as a
police officer was looking for Adrian. He wasn’t in a uniform and wouldn’t say
why and Kyle told him to leave and did so not so nicely. I have no clue what
that was all about nor probably will I.
Today
is Martin Luther King Jr. national Holiday. I know he would have been shocked
as much of America reviled him back then and he was called a Communist by
leading racist leaders including highest officials in the Mormon Church. He’s
now the iconic symbol for all people seeking social justice and legal equality.
But as for the actual holiday, being retired, it’s just another day that the
post offices and banks are closed.
I took Milagros to work and in the
parking lot Maria Hernandez was sitting with her husband and little son in a
car. I hoped she now doesn’t have to always take the Front Runner down from
Ogden. Her husband is a very handsome Columbian and she has a cute little boy.
I stayed and helped out until Kyle asked me to bring him some chicken noodle
soup to the Truck Wash. Luis Alberto Negron and his son Luis was at the truck wash
helping Kyle clean the place. Luis and Tutu were off from school today.
At home I started typing up my
journal from May 1990 for much of the rest of the day. The weather cleared from
snow storms but it was below freezing for much of the day. Kyle wanted me to
print out my bank statement as he needed it to file for a car dealership
license. I guess it has to go under my name because Kyle hadn’t been out of
prison long enough to qualify. Of course, I will never see a dime of it as he
is just using my name. He was home early for him, at 7 and I was already
snuggled in bed with the pups. On face book Milagros posted pictures of Tutu
with Adrian at the Gallivan Ice Skating rink at night. It’s the first pictures
I had seen of Adrian since he stopped friending me on Face Book because I was a
reminder of sad times with Kyle. He seemed happy being out downtown and the
Christmas lights were still on accordingly it all looked magical. Luisana
posted some pictures of her being up probably near Heber with snow and ice as
backdrops. It was her day off. It seems my Columbian family have settled in and
moving on with their lives. What more could I want? My 1990 journal shows have
busy and active I was as a 39 year old therefore I had my time in the sun to do
good instead of accumulating riches which someday we all must leave behind.
We
are officially half way through January my least favorite month of the year. I
bought a waffle iron at D.I. 2 weeks ago for $3 so now it’s all I eat for
breakfast, waffles and my coffee with hot chocolate mix and marshmallows. Don't
judge. I am 72 and can eat what I want. It was very cold this morning in the
teens but the pups wanted a walk before going to pick up Milagros. It was quiet
at the Bewilder while I was there, but we were almost entirely out of brats.
Kyle and Luis Alberto Negron were busy
at Papi’s Truck Wash which I suppose is the new name of the truck wash. Kyle
said he hoped to bring in more Latino business than using the name Bubba. Nonetheless,
they were digging holes for metal posts that have to be installed for a fence
around where the car dealership will go according to code.
He asked me if I would go to Harmons and
buy some bratwursts as we were totally out of Jalapeno and Italian and down to
just a few Originals and chicken. I went to the downtown Harmons to buy what we
needed and I didn’t have to use my own money. After dropping them off at
Bewilder I left for home.
Though, Kyle later had me print off
lease agreements for the Papi location that he wanted me to bring and meet him
at the Pioneer Branch of America First accordingly so they could be notarized. Its
free if you have an account.
Afterwards I went to the Glendale Smith’s
to buy some Nudges griller treats for TJ and they are remodeling their entire
store and their pet section had no dog treats at all. I had to stop at the Rose
Park store. What I do for love. After taking the pups for a second walk I
stayed in for the rest of the day.
It was a beautiful day with bright blue
skies but it was cold only in the 20’s degree. The news said snow and rain are
coming tomorrow.
I worked more on my May 1990 journal and
later then pulled out all the Stonewall Town Meeting entries from which I want
to write up for my Face Book history pages. The group was the first real Gay
political group that I know of.
My back is finally healing and not so
sore. I can finally bend over without stiffness and pain. Glad the old body can
still heal itself.
In the news Trump swept the Iowa
Republican Caucus. Pathetic, but only 15 percent of Republicans bothered to
vote. CNN REPORTED Fifty-three percent of White evangelical Christians backed
Trump, to DeSantis’ 27% and Haley’s 13% — figures that underscore why Trump is
the heavy favorite in South Carolina – where evangelicals make up a huge share
of the party’s primary electorate – even though it’s Haley’s home state.
College graduates split somewhat evenly between Trump, Haley, and DeSantis. But
Trump dominated those without a college degree, with 67% support.”
It is clear from the Iowa caucus
that trump is the Christian Nationalists’
candidate. They will destroy American secularism and Democracy if Trump is
allowed to regain power. Ironically once in power, Evangelical Nationalist will
come after Mormons who they don’t consider real Christians. Maybe that is why
the Mormon church is stock piling billions to hedge against them.
17 January 2024
Wednesday
There
was too much snow on the ground in the neighborhood so the pups didn’t get a
morning walk and Luisana messengered me that she didn’t need a ride from me consequently
I went in early by myself to shovel a path along the walk way to the doors
leading to Kitchen entrance at Bewilder. There was about 3 inches of snow on
the steps and I didn’t want the girls to fall and I also needed to clear off
where the deliveries were coming today.
Luisana was a few minutes late and Maria
had called and said she would be a little late also because the snow was
hitting harder to our north. The guy delivering our supplies came about this
time bringing his own vehicle, packed and I helped him bring it in as a snow
storm hit. He came down from Ogden and said it took him nearly an hour just to
go from Ogden to Layton because of the winter storm. He also had to return to
get more of our order especially French fries as we were entirely out.
When Maria arrived, she and Luisana
worked putting the deliveries away and I breaded 60 chicken schnitzels before
leaving at 1. I didn’t stay to fry them because we were so slow with no one
coming in because of the snow storm. I wanted to get home before I got stuck in
the parking lot.
It was really coming down now in Salt
Lake and I white knuckled it while taking the freeway. I made it home safe and
sound even with the roads snow packed. I only saw one spin off on the freeway and
I passed by a two car collision on 700 North. I stayed far behind some idiot
tailgating someone who was going slow on the snow packed Redwood. Utah people are bad driver as it is but when it
snows they are even worse. Fernleaf hadn’t been plowed at all and that was the slipperiest
part, even creeping along, but I made it home without slipping and sliding too
much. I sure was surprised by the amount of snow that fell when they predicted
rain. But the house is warm and we have food consequently let it snow. Kyle
said he would retrieve Milagros to bring her to work therefore I didn’t have to
go out again even though the storm had stopped by 1:30.
I am such a good puppy parent. I got up
from a nap and put my britches back on, bundled up and put my Elmer Fudd hat on
and shoveled a pathway down the front steps to the drive way and then cleared a
path along my 100 feet of sidewalk thus the Pups could go for a walk. They
didn't get one this morning and Taco said get your butt out there so we can
take our afternoon constitutional. I was surprised that nearly all the
sidewalks around the entire block was cleared or being cleared. Peter Nash saw me shoveling and came over and
helped me, which was good of him. We visited about the barricades that the city
placed on Daleridge by our houses. He said he asked one of the workers who said
there might be a water break beneath the street. I hope it has nothing to do
with me.
After taking just Maxx, Taco and
Lulubelle, TJ didn’t want to come, around the block I stayed in for the rest of
the afternoon and evening. The weatherman yesterday said we were supposed to
have gotten rain today but instead here by the airport we had 4 inches of snow
and so much in the mountains that avalanches were closing down canyon highways.
But at least we aren’t as bad as other parts of the country.
Kyle came home around 8 after meeting
with the “Motr Pizza” people in Orem and with the “Papi” One Stop truck wash
people.
18 January 2024 Thursday
It
is beautiful morning after the snow storm from yesterday but it was a bit dicey
walking the pups as on some spots the residue snow on the sidewalk had melted
enough to turn to ice and it was slippery for some of the way but I took it
slow and walked in the snow when I thought the sidewalk was too glassy. So be careful out there I am sure the roads
are the same way.
I passed by the water department’s
work crew if about 10 guys using heavy equipment digging up the asphalt in the
street by my access ramp curb on Daleridge. I wonder how extensive the break is.
I went and picked up Luisana and Maria was already there cleaning and changing
the oil in the fryers. Visiting on Say Hi ap I learned that she came from an
educated family in Columbia with her father being a high school teacher and she
had gone to college but is worried she might lose her credits if she doesn’t
finish her degree in commerce law. I had a whole lot more respect for what
she’s gone through now.
Kyle came in to work some on his laptop
and I guess he had left Luis Alberto to manage Papi’s. I didn’t do anything
major and left around noon to go home and rest and walk just Maxx and Taco who
I don’t think is feeling well as he’s sleeping a lot and didn’t eat his supper.
I finished typing up May 1990 and posted
on the history sites about the Stonewall Town Meeting and the May County
Democratic convention where the Gay and Lesbian Democratic Caucus made its
debut which later became the Gay and Lesbian Utah Democrats. I had a notice on
the door that the water will be turned off for about 4 hours tomorrow starting
at 9. I bought bottled water the other day and I have several gallons I have
stored in bottles for emergency use. You never know and the dogs need their
water if a real emergency happened.
19 January 2024 Friday
Today
would have been dad’s 99th birthday. I am sure he would not have
liked to have lived that long nor would I. The weather seemed cloudy and damp
but no snow. The water was turned off at 9 so I had to shower earlier and then
walked just Maxx and Taco. Much of the snow is gone now. I went and brought
Luisana to Bewilder and Maria must have come in early because she had already
done a lot of the set up.
Kyle called me around 11 to come out to
“Papi’s” and bring some printers papers so he would give me the totals for this
week’s payroll. He wanted me to deposit $4,000 with Maria, Luisana, and
Milagros getting $700 each, Sarah getting $240, and Luis Alberto Negron, who is
now working at the carwash, $800. He gave me $860 to pay back some of the money
owed me.
He said there was a closer American First on
State street about 3500 south so I went there. It was a large and spacious new
credit union building however they only had 3 tellers and in line when I got there
were 7 people. I waited 20 minutes
before I was even able to do my transaction. The teller was nice enough but
behind me now were like 15 more people. I would never go back to this branch.
It took me about 40 minutes just to be at the bank.
I
went home afterwards, rested until picking up Milagros to take her to work.
After all that running around I just came home and after walking all the pups
on the late afternoon I was in for the rest of the day. I mainly worked on compiling
my 1990 journals from sources I had already written for the Sacred Faeries so
that will save me some time. 1990 was a
transitional year capping off the 1980’s and beginning the 1990’s.
20 January 2024
Saturday
Kyle
took the day off, sort of, as he had a few meetings he had to attend for his Bismarck
Donut enterprise. I took Luisana into work and started the soup and beer cheese
but left shortly after 11 as there was no real reason for me to be there. Luisana
is basically in charge of the kitchen anymore, knowing what needs to be done.
She works 50 hours, five days a week from 10 to 10, Wednesday through Sunday. So
does Maria Hernandez only Monday through Friday. Sarah works 20 hours on the
weekends and Milagros works her 50 hours with only Sundays off and 20 hours
Monday and Tuesday and 8 hours Wednesday through Saturday. I am kind of
superfluous any more except for taking the gals to work and doing schnitzels
and opening up a bit in the mornings. Both Luisana and Maria have their own
keys now even.
Luis Alberto Negron basically has taken
over washing trucks at Papi’s allowing Kyle to concentrate on the donut
business and starting a pizza operation in a food court near BYU. So, I am home
more than ever and I have been using the time to transcribe my 1990 journal.
I haven’t really done much house work
except keeping up with the dishes, doing my own laundry and cooking for the dogs.
In the afternoon Kyle came home and we went to China Delight for the first time
together. He had his usual Orange Chicken and white rice and I had some Pork
Chow Mein. My tastes have changed and while in my mind I still want chow mein
but when I eat it, I end up giving more of it to Lulubelle who loved the
vegetables. The weather has been in the 40’s and is quickly melting the snow we
had from the last storm. I’ve noticed that TJ has stopped wanting to go for a
walk in the mornings lately but will go in the afternoon. He’s getting older
and probably one walk a day is plenty.
21 January 2024 Sunday
I
only left the house once to walk the pups this morning and then to go to Common
Cents to get a refill drink. I didn’t have to take anyone to work, so I was
home all day finishing up June 1990 and beginning July. I took such a late nap
that the pups didn’t get a second walk and besides, it was rather damp outside
as it had misted on me when I went to Common Cents.
I did reschedule my doctor’s appointment
for February 6 at 8 since Dr. Stoneburner canceled the one I previously had. So,
it was a quiet day for me but a busy one for Kyle. He didn’t come home until after
8 and he came up stairs to say that he will be gone Thursday through Sunday and
that I needed to take him to the airport at 6 in the morning on Thursday and
asked me to feed Persephone while he’s a way.
He also said that in February he
will be spending much of his time in Utah
County taking over the Bismarck Donuts and setting of the “Motr Pizza place. He
will be there so much that he may have to rent a short term place there rather
than drive back and forth between here and there. Also, this Tuesday he’s
taking Luisana in for an eye examination because I guess her vision is almost
as bad as Adrian’s. So, there’s going to be a lot going on except for me. I am
going to be less and less busy I suppose.
22January 2024 Monday
It
was a gloomy damp day but no rain or snow. I took Milagros to work and then
drove to Papi’s to pick up all the towels that Kyle wanted washed at Bewilder. However,
the laundry soap that Kyle had bought had been brought back to the Negron’s
apartment because Milagros thought they were going to do laundry for Papi’s
there. So, I will do the laundry tomorrow while I bread schnitzel.
I left and went to the store to buy more
treats for the pups and some treats as well for me. I was home for the rest of
the day finishing up the month of July 1990. I sent Brandon Burt a copy of
January 1990 for him to edit and as he was mentioned several times back then. I kind of trust him as we have known each
other for so many years.
After leaving Bewilder I didn’t see Kyle
or anyone else for the rest of the day. It was just me and the pups. When Kyle
came home around 8 we visited some. He said he and a couple of meetings to hire
a “chef” for the Bismarck and Motr Pizza place, and some social media person. He leaves for Indianapolis Thursday morning
and will return Sunday night.
23 January 2024 Tuesday
It
was another warm day for January In the 40’s. I picked up Milagros to take her
to Bewilder and there I put the towels in to wash and dry while I breaded 79
chicken schnitzels to use up all the chicken breasts that had thawed out. I was
there until 1:30. Kyle had taken Luisana to get an eye prescription because she
is going to need glasses.
I went home to rest and as I was laying
down I heard the dogs going crazy and I hear a bang against the house. I look outside and a bunch of Junior High boys
on the corner were throwing rocks at the house and at the dogs. I marched
outside and the kids took off running down into the Daleridge cull de sac. I took
after them to give them a piece of my mind and Victor my neighbor joined me as
he saw them throwing the rocks.
The kids scattered by the time I got to
the end of the street. Well, I knew what I had to do; cover the tops of my rock
walls where kids had been taking rocks and throwing them for some time. They
even busted out windows to Mike Romero's camper trailer last fall. So, I dug up
all the flag stones I had placed in the south facing parking strip and covered
the wire cages the best I could for a 72 year old man. It was a lot of work but
needed to be done. The result was not perfect but the little shits will have
work at getting out rocks to throw now. Now you know why old men say get off my
lawn lol.
Peter Nash came home about then I told
him what had happened and he said the other day he caught a kid smashing blue
colored bottles on the street. I knew exactly where the kid got them out of my
yard. There were the old bottles that Charles Frost left here years ago that I
had just recently put in my front yard as I was going to plant them upside down
as a decoration. Well, they are gone now. I found one left and put in the trash
bin where I discovered that Kyle had gone through a lot of his clothes and thrown
them away.
I retrieved them because they were still
good so that I could donate at Deseret Industries tomorrow. So, I am pooped to
be exact an old poop as it was a busy day for me but not as busy as last year cleaning
Bill Poore’s apartment and taking care of him. Even though I rarely mention it,
not a day goes by that I don’t think of Adrian Villalobos and miss him.
24 January 2024
Wednesday
When
Kyle came home before leaving again, he informed me that he had a text that his
divorce papers were approved and he and Adrian are officially divorce. I
couldn’t show how incredibly sad I was as that Kyle seemed relieved. So, I just
hugged him wishing I could hug Adrian also.
This afternoon when I went to pick up Milagros,
Adrian pulled up beside us and I waved and smiled to him hoping he would
acknowledge me but he didn’t. He just got out of his car and went upstairs to
the apartment. I was sad but understood where he was coming from, a place of
hurt and probably anger, not at me but at Kyle via me.
So, as I drove Milagros to Bewilder she
was on her phone and started crying. Everything was in Spanish so I had no idea
what was upsetting her. When she got out I patted her leg to say I care but had
no idea why she was weeping. I thought it must have been something about her
family.
But at the house I decided to do some
yard work as I knew the middle school would be letting out at 2:30 and I wanted
to be outside to monitor any mischief. I could see that part of the problem is
a gang of 15 or 20 kids walk together down Fernleaf and turn the corner at my
property to head down Daleridge. I was raking up leaves but they knew I was
watching them also to make sure they left my rock retaining wall alone.
While I was cutting back roses and other plants
that I didn’t get a chance to do last fall, Kyle called me and asked if I was
okay. He said Milagros was crying because she was upset that Adrian ignored me
and Kyle thought I was hurt by it. I said I was fine and that I understood what
is going on with Adrian and I was okay. I wanted to say that nothing Adrian
could do could hurt me or stop me from loving him.
So, when Kyle later told me the
unexpected news that the divorce was finalized it was just another sad bruise
on the heart. Kyle was surprised how quickly the divorce came through because
he only filed the last court papers on Friday and at the time was told the
divorce would take 30 to 60 days so he was amazed that he received a text today
saying it had been finalized.
This morning, I took Luisana to work
and helped her and Maria set up before taking the Papi’s towels and rags back
to the truck wash. I saw that Kyle had the office wall removed and made the
main area more spacious. Luis Alberto washed the FIT while I was there before I
went home to rest before going to retrieve Milagros.
After dealing with the Junior High
School kids, I worked mainly on finishing up my August 1990 journal. I laid
down around 7:30 and fell asleep. I woke up thinking it was the middle of the
night but it was only 9:30 but I forced myself to go back to sleep thinking
about Adrian.
25 January 2024
Thursday
This
last week in January, I had a restless night and several dreams involving
Adrian. TJ was restless too trying to catch his breath and I had to calm him by
petting him so he could fall back to sleep.
I got up at 5:30 to get dressed as Kyle
had to leave for the airport at 6. It was misty the whole time and the streets
were all wet. It was pitched black out with the cloud cover. We finally saw the
new sculpture feature as you arrive at the Airport of pyramid shaped mountains
I suppose and I saw upon leaving the Olympic Arch that was reassembled and
placed at the airport.
My main job while Kyle is gone is to do
payroll. I walked Maxx and Taco before leaving to pick up Luisana and it
started to really rain as we were driving to work. I only stayed until near 11
as the girls had everything under control and as it was cold and rainy there
wasn’t any customers yet. I went to the Pioneer Branch of America First and
while they were not busy.
I
had the bad luck of going to a new teller who had to question me about
everything about the transaction and all I was doing was putting $4,000 in to
my money market account so I could withdraw payroll tomorrow. It took about 15
minutes for something that should have taken less than 5 and I was the only customer
at the time. Oh well. I still get anxious doing these transactions worried that
there won’t be money in Kyle’s account to do a transfer, especially these
larger amounts.
But all’s well that ends well. I came
back home and worked some on the computer and it was a gloomy overcast day with
it raining off and on. When I went to retrieve Milagros, Adrian’s car was
parked there and he came out with Milagros when she left the apartment. I got
out of the car and went up to him and just held him for the first time in a
month then he drove off. I told Milagros that I wasn’t upset with Adrian
yesterday and that I understood how he felt and that I loved him and nothing he
could do would change that. She said that Adrian had just heard about the
divorce being finalized yesterday, which was probably the real reason he had
ignored me.
I
just dropped Milagros off at Bewilder and then came home. It was really chilly
out as it was so damp but I watched the hoard of boys leaving the Middle School
to make sure they didn’t bother my property by throwing rocks.
I like it when it rains in the valley
and snows in the mountains...it’s a win-win since the skiers get to ski and I don’t have to shovel rain. However, the dampness is chilly like ice
water walking the pups...bitch and moan...what else do I got to do? I walked
Taco Maxx and TJ this afternoon before staying home for the rest of the evening.
I feed the pups and Persephone before climbing into bed myself around 7:30. I
fell asleep by 9:30 but woke up at 12:30 and I was sure it was early in the
morning. So, I fixed myself a sandwich and played Spider Solitaire until nearly
2 until I was sleepy enough to go back to sleep.
It was wonderful that Adrian thawed
towards me to allow me to hug him but I don’t know if we will ever be as close
as we were. I am sure I represent too many sad memories for him.
26 January 2024 Friday
The
weather cleared up although it may have rained overnight. I took Luisana to
Bewilder and set up the soup and beer cheese and saw that we were low on Brats
so I went to Harmons and bought $80 worth. Kyle’s card didn’t work so I used my
own money. From there I went to the America First on 500 South to withdraw $700
each from the Money Market Account for Luisana, Maria, and Milagros and also
$800 for Luis Alberto.
After delivering the brats I gave
Luisana and Maria their money and then drove down to Papi’s and gave Luis
Alberto his money. I left there and went to the Pioneer branch where at the ATM
machine I pulled out $180 for the woman who cleans the buses at Papi’s to give
her tomorrow.
Then I finally went to my Vietnamese
barber and was able to get in the barber chair immediately. I was pretty
shaggy. As long as I don’t have dementia I want to look semi-groomed. The price
of a beard and hair cut has gone up like everything else, but I am not stupid
enough to blame President Biden.
At home I stripped my bed and tried to
clean the bedroom a bit before going to get Milagros. Adrian Villalobos was
there and came down to the car with Milagros and I got out to go hug him and he
sweetly kissed my cheek. I hope time is healing his broken heart and
disappointment.
I
took Milagros into work and went to the credit union again because I forgot to
get $240 for Sarah to give to her tomorrow. On the way home I stopped for gas
at the Rose Park Smith as that gas prices were slowly going up and now they are
at $2.50 up from $2.40 just a few days ago but I had a 10 cent discount so I
saved about a dollar LOL.
I
went to Dollar Tree to get some cleaning supplies, bleach and a mop bucket
mainly and it was so crowded with only one checker who was checking out a
customer with about $100 worth of items. Then another checker came finally but
the person he was helping had issues. All in all, I spent nearly 20 minutes or
more just standing in line. If I had anywhere else to be, I would have just
left the store after a 3rd checker finally came and after standing
in line for so long. Sounds like a first world problem.
I was barely home when the middle school
let out so I watched the 15 or more boys ramble down the street in a herd. I
stayed outside to make sure they kept walking rather than congregate on my
corner lot and cause mischief.
I was in for rest of the day, mopping
the floors, making my bed, just doing some generally light housekeeping. I did
bake me some brownies.
In the news the New York jury awarded E
Jean Carroll $83 million dollars but does anyone think Trump is going to pay
the Money awarded for his defamation of Carroll who he was also convicted of sexually
assaulting? He is such a dead beat. He should be barred from running for office
until he does
27 January 2024 Saturday
When
I went to pick up Luisana I was surprised to see Maria Hernandez come out of
the apartment with her. Evidently they were hammered last night and didn’t get off
work until after midnight and the last Front Runner to Ogden had left so Maria
spent the night with the Negron’s. I took Maria to the Front Runner station
before taking Luisana to Bewilder where Sarah was waiting. I gave her pay of
$240 to her and then we opened the kitchen.
I
talked to “Giggles”, the gal who works the front bar and dining room, and I
guess the place was super busy last night and their part of Bewilder made $5000
and she made $300 in tips. When I messengered Kyle that I was going to buy more
brats he said that he could see the kitchen made $2000 last night.
I went to Harmons and bought more original
chicken, Jalapeno brats for another $75 and some cherry tomatoes. As we were
out of tomatoes and dinner salad I went to the Restaurant Depot on 700 West and
12th South and bought those two items for another $20. After
bringing them back to the kitchen and making sure everything was supplied, I
went to Papi’s Truck Wash to pay the lady there who helps Luis Alberto with
washing and cleaning the U of U’s fleet of shuttle buses. I met her and her
name is Yolanda and she spoke English well enough to communicate with me some. The
son Luis Negron was at the truck wash supposedly helping and Kyle wanted him paid $40 so I gave that
to his father to give him later. So,
everyone was paid, Milagros, Luisana, Maria, Sarah, Luis Alberto, Yolanda, and
Luis. At 2 I went and took Milagros in to work and after that my day was done.
It
was a nice day out and I walked the pups twice and stopped and visited
with Jim Benton down the street and later with Carlos Bahena next door. He said
he has had those Middle School kids also throwing stones into his yard, so we commiserated.
I want to put some of the wire meshed that is left from building the rock
containers along the south posts where Kyle never finished the wooden fence. I
think it will deter some of the rock throwing against the side of the house. Adrian’s mother has been texting me some
lately sending messages of affection in Spanish, I suppose for all the help I
have given her children.
I finished typing up the month of
September for 1990. That was really a transitional month for me as I became
less involved politically and more into developing the expansion of the Sacred
Faeries.
I believe Republicans thrive on fear of
the poorly educated and on those they themselves have economically repressed.
The supposedly wealthiest country in the world and its Billionaires could
easily accommodate those seeking a new life for their families and themselves.
What low paying and strenuous jobs are these folks taking from real
"Americans"? farm work, domestics, kitchen workers, hospitality, meat
packing and slaughter houses. Give me a
break...white supremacy is behind anti-immigration rhetoric and is the driving
force of the Republican party.
28 January 2024 Sunday
This
morning, I put on a Crockpot of pinto beans before I took Luisana to work this
morning. She had written to me last night that “Adrian tells me that he has
written to you by text messages, that if it is possible for you to see the
messages please.” They were out of Cayenne pepper to make fry sauce but seemed
to have enough of everything else, so I went to the store and got some for them
to make their spicy fry sauce that they were almost out of. After that I came
home and tried to find Adrian’s message.
He had sent “I wanted to tell you that
thank you for missing me the day I saw you were with my sister. I could notice
my absence in your face and I don’t want you to be like this because you know I
love you with the depth of my heart. Just understand me a little. I need to
heal my heart. But I was worried to see you so sad, friend, If you want tomorrow we can meet wherever you want. Maybe
here where I live. You can visit me tomorrow Monday so we can share together.
You tell me where you would like to see me!. Time will take control of things for
now you should be calm because I love you” I responded I would love to see you
tomorrow after I take Milagros to work . I need to know you are well. My love
for you has never changed. Stay well my friend.” So, I am hopeful that at least
Adrian and I can repair our relationship as I told Milagros the other day I
never divorced Adrian.
As it's the end of the month I used up
what was in the refrigerator and cupboard. I decided to make enchiladas from a
bag of corn chips I had to use them up and I also cooked a pot of pinto beans.
I feel sad for folks that never learned to improvise and keep staples around.
This will be a meal for several days or I will freeze it.
It was such an incredible spring like
day in the 50s that I had to be outside and do some yard work and clean up. It
felt more like March than January. I finally took some of the wire mesh fencing
and screwed it to the fence posts to make a taller barrier to keep kids from
throwing rocks at the house.. At one point the wire mesh when had been curled
up sprung back and it almost hit me in the eye. I was so lucky that it didn’t
puncture my eye, however now I am exhausted. Oh well.
I rested for a bit and then decided to
make a small lasagna dish to bring to Adrian tomorrow. When Kyle called at 7:30
to come get him at the airport, I was really tired and could hardly keep from
yawning the whole way there. Kyle seemed really upbeat and said the trip was
really productive but I have no clue as to why he went. He said he hired a
woman named Maria who is bilingual to operate Papi’s front office. So, there
are 3 now on the payroll there, Luis Alberto, Yolanda, and Maria. There’s four
at Bewilder, Milagros, Luisana, Maria, and Sarah. I have no clue what is going
on in Orem with Bismarck Donuts and the Motr Pizza outfit. After taking him back
to the house, I simply went to bed.
29 January 2024 Monday
It
was an interesting day as I reconnected with Adrian Villalobos. He wanted for
us to get together and I suggested that instead of at his place we meet for
lunch at Sabor Latino on North Temple at 12:30. I was still bringing him his
lasagna. So, I took Milagros to work, did a bit of prep work and then went over
to Papi’s Truck Wash to gather up the towels to bring back to wash at Bewilder.
I then just came home and waited until
it was time to meet up with Adrian. It was bitter sweet and at first we didn’t
talk about Kyle but just about his living arrangements and his work. He’s
renting a room in Bountiful from some woman and while his room is fine, his
portion of the rest of the house and use of the refrigerator is very limited. I
didn’t ask what he was paying.
He was made a supervisor and had today
and tomorrow off but he was going back into work at 3:30 for a couple of hours
as he wants to make as much money as possible to pay off bills. Then we talked
a little about Kyle and how he would like to return home but was afraid that
Kyle didn’t want him around. He said he missed me and Kyle and at one point he
even started sobbing while we were at the booth. I just held him and said
things will get better.
He wanted to video me stroking his hand
with my hand. I think he’s just lonesome and homesick but I don’t have a magic
wand to make things better. He hardly ate any of his lunch nor did I, which
with a tip was around $50. The food was Venezuela and Columbian style and was
good but we were too emotional to eat.
I wanted him to come back to the house
but I think he was afraid to so he left about 1:30 after I gave him his lasagna
and I just went back home to lay down. I had a surprise call from Kyle about
3:30 who had talked with Adrian about us having had lunch together. I think he
was genuine happy about it but sometimes Kyle is so guarded about his emotions it’s
hard to read them.
I walked and fed the pups and
watched in the news 3 American soldiers were killed in a drone attack by
Iranian backed militia in Syria. The Biden administration is formulating an
appropriate response.
I was typing up October 1990 journal
when Kyle came home at 7:30. He said that Adrian was coming over for Kyle to
help him set up his newer phone. I am not sure what that was all about but was
pleased to see them sitting at the kitchen table. I think they were both
guarded in their dealing with each other but it’s a start. I had Adrian’s W-2
form that came in the mail and Kyle was also helping him with it. I left them
alone and they stayed up until after 10 talking in Spanish. All I know is that
I want Adrian home and safe. It was
another warm January day in the mid 50’s.
30 January 2024 Tuesday
Almost
immediately Kyle called after I had taken Milagros to work to come join him at
Papi’s so we could go to this fiancé place on 45th South and 700
East that agreed to loan Kyle $6500 that he needed to buy equipment for the
Motr Pizza place in Orem. Well actually I was the one who borrowed the money as
that Kyle used all my information to secure the loan that will be $240 a month
for 4 years but at least it will come out of Kyle’s bank account and not mine,
but I still will be the one obligated if something goes wrong. I went back to
Bewilder as I needed to get some produce for the kitchen. I also had to bread
some chicken schnitzel so I was at work until 2. Milagros and Maria were having
fun singing to Latino music. That was fun for me to know that they were happy.
When I left I took the towels I washed over to Papi’s and then stayed home for
the rest of the day except to walk the pups.
I sat down and texted the following
to Adrian in Spanish using the say hi app that kind of loosely translated what
I wanted to say.
“Dear Adrian. I want you to give this
your serious consideration. I know how heart breaking it feels sometimes, but you need to move back home into your own
space, with your own use of an entire house, with people like me who love you,
especially me. You need to be closer to your family and to work. I want you to
have free room and board to save what money you now pay in rent to send to your
family and bills. When you have paid off
your obligations and you still want to move I won’t object just will be incredibly
sad. I want you to have more than a tiny space in a refrigerator and
live among strangers.
Life has not been the same since you
left and you took away so much joy with you.
If you have cried at night so have I knowing you weren’t here. But that
is neither here nor there. As a practical matter you should bring your
things back here to at least store in that empty bedroom and hopefully you will
consider forgiving us and sleeping under the same roof as those who love you
even if we had hurt you. We are all just frail people but we are a family for
better or worse
All I know is that I need you home. This
is my house. I pay the mortgage, not Kyle, and I say who lives here and who
doesn’t although I know deep down Kyle still cares for you but hides it as he
doesn’t love like you and me.
Kyle is going to spend nights down in
Utah County from February 6 until the 29th setting up his two businesses down
there. I would really like you to at least spend some time here even if you do
not feel like coming home. Please consider it Love Ben.”
Later he responded that he would
consider it and said he was going to
think about it “as I told you yesterday you only live once and here you have a
son, a grandson who loves you and wants to take care of your until your older.
I know Kyle still loves. I could see it last night in his eyes. Obviously I
still love that man” but he said he and Kyle have to talk about many things. He
said that he was coming over to watch a movie with Kyle. The rest of the
message is that he still hopes he can regain the love of Kyle.
I was too tired to even think about
going to the Gay men’s group tonight and I wonder if I will anymore as
obviously I am not a part of the LGBTQ+ paradigm.
In another life I was a California boy. Laguna
Beach, California was a fun beach when I was a teenager in Orange County. It
was an art colony and there was just one road through town the Pacific Coast
Highway. As you entered, an old man known as the "old greeter" waved
to every car coming in for town I guess for nearly 30 years .
The Mystic Art World Gallery was the
main hippie hang out in Orange County where I once met Timothy Leary. My mom's
best friend, Jean Horan who was like a second mom to me, had a daughter named Carol. She was married
to John Griggs, who founded Mystic Arts
World. I used to babysit their kids.
I was an artist [sissy] in high school
and I always was flattered that John Griggs wanted me to display my work in his
gallery although I never did. What I did
not know for years was that John was one of the founders of the Brotherhood of
Love and was known as "Farmer John"
He was also part of a syndicate that was
the largest distributor of LSD in California and the Mystic Art Gallery was
their main distribution place.
Jean Horan had me help her one summer
with her sewing these huge teepees on her power sewing machine with me pulling
the canvas material through. They were 16 feet tall. The hippies had a commune
in Laguna Canyon where they set up all these teepees.
I
was so naive but I was only 16 and 17 and it was the Summer of Love. I even
went to my first "Love-In" in 1967.
It was groovy LOL
However, John died in July 1969 from
eating bad psychedelic mushrooms while living in the canyon and Carol had just
given birth to their youngest son "Full Buck Moon" Griggs. With 3 young children Carol quickly
remarried Mike Randall who was the
original general manager of Mystic Arts World, and the de facto chief of the
tribe after the demise of John Griggs.
The FBI was involved under President
Nixon orders and Carol and Mike went underground, changed their names, and even
left the country at one point.
Jean Horan's phone was tapped and my mom
and her for a while always seemed to sense someone was listening in on their
conversations. They would never talk about Carol and Mike.
Jean and her husband had mortgaged their house
to bail Carol and Mike out of jail and soon as they were free they cleared out
forfeiting the bond. However, Jean and Tom were paid back by anonymous
contributions to the LA Free Press. LOL
When I was in college Jean asked for our
help salvaging what was left behind at the commune in Laguna Canyon. Lots of
fun hippie clothes, kitchen ware, oil lamps, eastern mystic books on religion.
Carol Griggs Randall eventually returned
to San Francisco and was the Godmother of the Brotherhood of Eternal Love, as
widow of its short-lived founder She is
the keeper of the keys to the kingdom, and maintainer of spiritual values.
Michael Randall was the Godfather of the Brotherhood of Eternal Love. Between
them, the Randalls carried the torch of
idealism represented by the Mystic Arts World, and the movement that created it.
The Mystic Art Gallery was destroyed by
an act of arson.
Jean Horan died at the age of 91 just a
few months after my own mom died in 2011. I felt like I had lost two mothers.
My next life adventure was 180 degrees
different when I became a Mormon and move to Utah and went to BYU where I was
like in another cult.
31 January 2024
I
had a pleasant surprise this last day of January when I saw Adrian come
upstairs with Kyle together. I am not encouraged that they will ever get back
together as a couple but am encouraged that it’s a step closer to having Adrian
move back home. I took Luisana to work and about 10:30 we had a huge delivery
which I helped the girls put away until I left about noon. Kyle called me after
stopping at Common Cents. He asked about work but I think he really wanted to
speak to me about the talk he and Adrian had last night about moving back to
the house and living upstairs. Kyle said the same thing that I did to Adrian that
putting emotions aside it was the practical thing to do so save money. One of
the sticking points was kind of funny. Adrian hated the dark brown color of the
room and we said if that’s all we’d paint it. I only had it pained brown for
when it was a movie room. So, who knows what will come of it? Little steps.
I was typing up my journal from
October 1990 and forgot about the time and weary I went to lay down and looking at the clock it was 2 and
I jumped up as I had forgotten I needed to take Milagros to work. So, I rushed
over there and saw Adrian’s car and he came down with Milagros, I supposed to
head off to work and because of me Milagros was about 10 minutes late but it
really didn’t matter because the girls weren’t busy with customers.
So, I came back home and as the Junior
High was getting out, I drove the back way home instead of taking Redwood and
when I entered Daleridge off of Miami I saw cop cars and about 40 kids in the
street and on my corner. There must have been some sort of fight for the cops
to show up and of course that was great entertainment for kids.
I pulled in to my garage and walked over
to my corner and stood just to make sure the kids knew I was watching them and
eventually only one cop remained to try to get the kids to disperse. He must
have been “Officer Friendly” at the middle school because the kids flocked
around him and didn’t seem to be concerned about anything he said. A lot of the
kids, I think, were trying to show off to their friends how the cop didn’t
intimidate them.
Slowly the kids dissipated but about a
dozen boys remained ,where one was on a dirt bike. The cop told him that the
bike wasn’t street legal and then he took off. The boy, however, just continued
racing up and down the street with the bike that had no muffler, with other
boys taking turns zooming up and down with cars having to swerve around them. I
thought no wonder kids had no respect for the police when they think they can
do just about anything and get away with it.
So that was my main excitement for this
end of January. I afterwards walked the pups and stayed in for the rest of the
evening finishing up my Journal from October 1990.
I am happy that January is over
although it’s been a pretty mild January. Today it was even 62 degrees, one
degree less than tying with the record of 63 degrees. The inversion was even
blown out and the mountains were pretty, being snowcapped. Kyle came home around 7:30 and came up for a
bit to say that tomorrow he has to be up at 3 in the morning to be down at
Bismarck Donuts by 4 as he is taking over the operations. I think it is now becoming
a reality and not just an ideal about taking on 4 businesses. I can’t worry
about it nor should I, but as long as he depends on my Credit Union connection
to make payroll, I will worry.
So, a year ago I was cleaning Bill
Poore’s studio apartment and helping him to remain home rather than in a
hospice. Kyle was still just doing the Turo and Uber driving gig so I had
little else to do than take care of Bill. This year I am busy with the kitchen
at Bewilder Brewery and although much less than I was last fall. I am still the
main transportation for the gals to work while Luis Alberto Negron takes them
home when the kitchen closes. He started working at “Papi’s” Truck Wash,
formerly “Bubbas.”
I was missing Adrian and worried about
him for most of the month after he stopped communicating with me but I remained
hopeful that somehow and someway he would return home. It’s more likely now but
not a done deal.
FEBRUARY
1 February 2024
Thursday
I
woke up at 3 in the morning as my subconscious must have been worried that Kyle
might oversleep. I kept waiting to hear the garage door open. It was 3:30 when
he finally left his room and I called to him “Good Luck” and then tried to go
back to sleep with the pups.
I fell asleep, dreaming that I was
giving Adrian a neck massage until the clock alarm went off at 6:30. So I got
up and fixed my breakfast of sausage and waffles with a cup of Mocha Coffee.
After walking the pups, I went off to take
Luisana to work. Maria was a little late as Luisana said that she was getting
married today. I have no idea what that was all about because I miss so much what
is said in Spanish. Anyway, I fixed Chili and the beer cheese before going to
the downtown Harmons to get Brats as we had no back up; just what was on the
line. The downtown store had plenty of Italian and Jalapeno brats but only 9
originals and no chicken. That store’s
meat department is not very reliable for being stocked with what we need.
Anyhow, afterwards I went on home and
rested until Kyle called and said some gal was coming to pick up a “container”
in the freezer. Kyle was not clear at all and I assumed he meant the freezer at
Bewilder so I drove all the way back
there only for him to say he meant the freezer down in the garage. So, I had to
hurry home and was perturbed because that is so like Kyle not to be clear about
what he is asking of me. But I knew he was probably exhausted so I just let it go
and went back home to meet the gal who was waiting for me and retrieved it from
the freezer. I have no idea what it was or why it was in my freezer in the
garage.
Anyway, it was time to go get Milagros, Adrian
was also there so I gave him some mail that had come for him. I’ve done all
that I can do to convince him to return home but it’s now up to him and I won’t
say anymore. Although I did look up what it takes to adopt an adult in Utah. It
appears pretty simple. It’s my fantasy that Adrian would let me adopt him.
Nonetheless, I couldn’t stay after
dropping Milagros off because I had an appointment at 3 to have Maxx’s nails
clipped. I decided to take a chance and brought Taco and TJ with me to the
Wasatch Springs clinic hoping they could do theirs also. They could, so all
three had their nails clipped which cost $68 altogether.
After dropping them back at the house,
the weather was changing, clouding up, so I decided to go back downtown to the
Harmons to see if they had put out any more chicken or original brats which
they hadn’t since that morning. That was a wasted effort but as I was already
out, I drove to the Harmons on 13th and 17th and they had
plenty of chicken and Originals so I bought a dozen each hoping it would get
them through tonight and tomorrow. Luisana said that Kyle had said he would get
the brats but I am sure he simply forgot.
So, I came back home, watched the
news about California being pounded with inches of rain, some of which is
expected to come our way. I had already
went to bed when Kyle came home at 7:30, exhausted. He came up to see me and
said that he had forgotten that Cody McKendrick had said that a podcast event
was being held at Bewilder tonight, regarding the flack over the Mormon Church
suing Bewilder to stop using the word Deseret. Kyle said the kitchen was
slammed as nearly 100 people showed up for the event. It was good thing that I
had bought all those brats but I wonder how much of everything we ran out of since
Kyle never told the kitchen about the event. At least there was 3 girls there. I
expect to come in tomorrow and have to do schnitzel as well as buy more brats
and do payroll. Oh well.
I need to delete a dating site called
"Silver Daddies" that I joined years ago, because I am just not interested in dating or
finding a relationship anymore. I don’t delete,
I suppose, because it’s still fun
to see younger guys still hitting on me and finding me attractive. Lol you
never get too old to stop being vain. I do feel bad about "ghosting"
them but soon I will someday be a real ghost. Lol
2 February 2024 Friday
It
rained for most of the day this wet Ground Hog’s Cross quarter day. It was
raining before going into work so the pups didn’t get a morning walk. I picked
up Luisana and we went to Bewilder to open the kitchen.
Cody McKendrick said that nearly 120
folks came in last night and that the girls were great with hardly 15 minutes between orders getting out. I asked
what we needed the most from Luisana and she said schnitzels as we went through
all that we had but we still had brats left. So, I spent the morning making 45
of them while also helping the girls because I know they were tired and
Luisana’s was not feeling well from her period.
I never heard back from Kyle after
texting him what we had in brats and what I made for schnitzels and that Cody
said that he was expecting around 75 people on Sunday and Monday might be a big
day also.
After retrieving Milagros I went to the
downtown America First hoping that the card was unlocked but it wasn’t. I
wanted the girls to get paid, especially Maria, as she is off for the weekend
and also rent is due for the Negron’s so I know they needed their pay. So, I
pulled out $2100 to pay them $700 each from my own Money Market and savings. So
that pretty much depleted my Money Market.
As I was heading home, Kyle finally
texted me and said he would call me in 15 minutes so I went to the Pioneer
Branch to wait until I knew what was going on. He never did, after waiting for
about an hour, so I just went home. When he finally called I told him the girls
were paid but Luis, Yolanda and Sarah still needed to get paid. As I suspected
he did not have but $800 on the card as none of his business accounts have paid
him yet. So again, I am left holding the bag until they do, which he said
probably would be Monday. I have my doubts.
I
said I was too tired as it was after 4 for me to go to the credit union again
and that I would tomorrow. He said he would figure something out which means I
will have to deal with it. If he does have $800 left in his account and he does
unlock it I should be able to get Yolanda paid $180 and Sarah $240 from my
accounts. I wonder when if ever his businesses will become profitable?
He said a while back that he didn’t want
me under stress and yet he is the one that stresses me out by sending me to the
bank for payroll when he knows we have no money.
It looks like the iconic Greek
Restaurant The Other Place is going to be history as it was reported the site
was to be sold for apartments.
3 February 2024
Saturday
It
was a very busy night at Bewilder even with the rain. The front of the house
said they did $5000 so not sure what the kitchen did but we were almost out of
bratwursts. So, I went to both 17th East and downtown Harmons and
bought a dozen or more over everything but chicken& Garlic as only emigration
Harmons had 5 of them. I wonder if they are discontinuing the chicken brats at
those locations.
Nonetheless, I also stopped at the
downtown credit union and pulled out of my account $800 for Luis Alberto, $240
for Sarah, $40 for Luis, and $180 for Yolanda so they would get paid. I paid
Sarah when I dropped off the bratwursts and then stopped in at the Redwood
Clinic to have some lab work done for Tuesday’s meeting with Dr. Stoneburner. However,
the lab technician said that Stoneburner hadn’t ordered any for me so I left
and went to Papis to pay Yolanda and Luis Alberto. I was surprised that Yolanda
said that Kyle paid her this morning already and also Luis Jr. but hadn’t Luis
Alberto so I gave him $800 and kept the $180.
Kyle called me back after I had texted
him regarding paying the crew and buying brats. He was down in Orem but said
that the kitchen made around $7000 last week so hopefully I will get paid back
some of the money. I went to pick up Milagros but Adrian pulled in the parking
lot as I was waiting and he said he’d take his sister to work so I just came
back home.
I first stopped at the library where I
checked out three books as I was in the mood to read. I checked out Erik
Larsen’s work on Winston Churchill and two mysteries. At home I walked the pups
and noticed it had rained while I was typing up my November 1990 journal which
I finished.
I fixed the pups their supper, tried to
read one of the mysteries but after 50 pages it was dry and didn’t seem to be
going anywhere so I read from Larson’s Splendid and the Vile. It' was
relatively nice out this morning but this afternoon it rained a bit and turned
really into a cold afternoon. I thought I would freeze walking the pups so I
went back home I climbed into bed with a
mystery, some popcorn, a Dr. Pepper and the pups to keep me company until they
heard a noise and then it's off to the races. I read a bit before calling it a
day. I saw that Jan Graham the only woman State Attorney General and Democrat
died at the age of 74.
I
was surprise this morning to see Adrian’s KIA parked in the driveway so he must
have spent the night downstairs. Kyle and he came upstairs around 9:30 after
walking the pups but I had to run off to pick up Luisana so I didn’t hear
anything they had discussed except that they were going to pick out paint
colors.
So, I went to retrieve Luisana this morning
but she was still in bed when I finally went up
the stairs to find out why she didn’t come down. Her uncle answered the
door and had to go wake her so we were about 15 minutes late getting to
Bewilder.
It was super slow this morning so I went to
the Harmons downtown and bought more bratwursts and after breading 47 chicken schnitzels
I went home because knew I was coming back to help tonight with the 75 people
they were expecting as well as regulars.
At the house I went in the Spare Room,
I’d like to call it Adrian’s Room whether he ever moves in our not and took
down the movie screen and the blackout window curtains that had been there for
so many years. I wanted to start getting the room prepped for painting. I am
thinking about paying one of the Latino men to paint the room instead of us doing
it.
Anyway, I went back to Bewilder at 5:30
and it was busier but the large crowd didn’t come in until 7. Maria actually
came in to help Luisana and so I wasn’t needed.
By that time Kyle showed up with bad
news that a previous owner of the truck wash came and took all the washing
equipment. Kyle made out a police report but we needed power sprayers to stay
in business this week so Kyle went on line and we found something that would
work temporarily at Lowes. We rushed over there and Lowes was about to close even.
I paid about $500 for it on my credit card.
Afterwards I was finally able to come
home and to bed as I was exhausted. I tried reading one of the other books I
checked out and read 6 chapters of it before I decided that it was enough. None
of the books I checked out were very entertaining so I will be returning them.
I did some research
on Perky Melehes who owned a Lesbian bar back in the early 1970s before leaving
to pick up Milagros. It seemed rather gloomy out. After dropping her off I went
down to Papi’s Truck Wash to give Luis Alberto a power washer I used to use but
hadn’t in years and to gather up the wet towels to bring back to Bewilder to
wash.
I
first went to Wal Mart to buy the pups some treats before go to Bewilders where
I only put one load in before going back home. I rested a bit before going to
Luckys to get a potato so I could make some corn chowder which sounded good on
this gloomy day.
Then
I had a phone call from Kyle asking if I’d go to the Restaurant Depot on 7th
West and pick up a 50 pound bag of onions as the gals were almost out of cooked
Cebolla’s and they wanted to cut some onions. So, I did and that was the last
time I went out before coming back home to walk the pups and feed them.
Kyle
came home shortly after I fed the pups with cans of paint and painting supplies
for the spare bedroom. He said that he contacted Maria Hernandez husband to
paint the room this Thursday.
He
also gave me his old phone and bought a yellow cover for it. We sat at the
kitchen table while he transferred all my old data from my phone to the new
phone. We talked about what I needed to do to help keep the kitchen at Bewilder
going. I am now in charge of ordering Brats from Emigration Harmons as well as
pick up some items that we didn’t need to order in bulk like lemons, and
eggplants.
In
the news California is being pounded with rain. You can tell that the
Republican Party has become a cesspool when crazy Nikki Haley is the moderate
choice for many of those who are not counted among the absolutely bat shit MAGA
crazies. Conservative Bitch Ann Coulter said that Trump could help the
Republican Part by dying LOL. King Charles III has cancer it was announced.
I
was out of the house by 7:30 to make it to the Redwood Clinic for my 7:45
appointment. Although I was taken back a little after 8, it wasn’t until 8:30
that Dr. Stoneburner showed up. When they weighed me in, I was at 180 pounds,
which really surprised me that I had lost 6 pounds since my last visit.
I had to do a wellness check on
remembering three words and also draw 10:45 in analog on a blank circle. I said
that test is going to be outdated as younger people don’t know how to read an
analog clock. Nevertheless, my blood pressure was 129 but Dr. Stoneburner was
not happy that my A1c didn’t drop more than it did. It was down from 6.4 to 6.2.
He wanted to see it in the 5 range but all in all I was in good enough
condition that I didn’t have to be back for 6 months, August 7.
I was done by 9, so I went to Lucky’s
and bought eggplants, lemons, red onions and some more cherry tomatoes before
retrieving Milagros. Maria Hernandez was already there but I was surprised that
so many of the pots and pans weren’t done, which was unusual. I had to go to
downtown Harmons right away because we had no Original Brats and we needed
tomatoes.
When I returned I helped Maria with doing the
dishes because both Milagros and she were doing prep work. I also placed an
order at the Emigration Harmons for Original, Jalapeno, Italian, and Chicken
brats. They said they would be ready today and they would call me when they
were.
Alan Anderson at one point called me to
see if I wanted to go with him and TJ Otaka
and Jim McMillan to a Senior Center in Midvale where he had been going
to for lunches. He had been going with a group that included Becky Moss who
evidently has issues with me. LOL. I said that right now I am super busy but
once things slow down I just might. I said he ought to call Mike Romero.
We were out of shredded cheese also and
as I was getting ready to go buy some, the Food Delivery truck pulled up and it
was a good thing because we were totally out of fries as well. Maria and I
spent an hour stocking while Milagros did some prep.
I was totally exhausted and left around
1 in the afternoon but first went to the Glendale Smith’s to buy some pure
maple syrup for Sunday’s waffles as we were almost out and I also bought a Red
Barron frozen pizza for myself.
I
had barely laid down when Mike Romero called and visited a bit. He saw Dr.
Stoneburner yesterday who has him on some new diabetic medicine think Mounjaro.
When he was talking about Coco, he started getting choked up because I think he
thinks this will be her last year with him.
Harmons informed me that the Bratwursts
were ready so I had to drive across town to pick them up, but I paid for them
with Kyle’s card instead of using my money. He also said that his engine light
came on and the Terrain is making a sputtering noise and wanted me near my
phone just in case he has car issues. It made me kind of mad that he kept the
Terrain instead of the Rogue which was much newer. It’s always something.
Before going to bed at 9, Kyle called and
asked me to feed Persephone which I am glad he did, because I had forgotten. He
also asked me tomorrow to go to Home Depot and buy some Orange paint to bring
to Papi’s so that Luis Alberto can paint the office so it sounds like tomorrow
will be another run-around day. He didn’t say anything more about the terrain
having problems.
Today was Bill Poore’s birthday. He
would have been 75. It was a nice day out for February, cloudy but in the 50’s
although in the evening it was sprinkling
It
rained and snowed for much of the day and they said we broke a rain fall total
record here near the airport with .77 of an inch of rain. I wouldn’t take the
pups out, as it was raining, for much of the morning and when I left to go
retrieve Luisana it had turned to snow and we had a blizzard all the way into
work.
Maria was late coming in because I think
she and her husband were getting an apartment in Murray. Anyway, I told Luisana
that I had to go to do some errands for Kyle regarding Papi’s. I had to bring
the sack of towels back and also go to Home Depot to pick up some paint for
Luis Alberto to paint the office at the truck wash.
After dropping off the paint I had to go to
Lowes to buy some more paint rollers for the spare bedroom. I then came home
through the storm and typed up some of December 1990 before going to get
Milagros. It was still snowing and it was sticking to the ground but misty, as
slush. It was almost white out conditions on the freeway. I just dropped
Milagros off and came home. Taco was dying to go so I bundled up and took Taco,
Maxx and TJ for a walk around the block on slushy sidewalks as snow fell.
I didn’t leave the house again and
continued to type
My
old movie room which became a spare bedroom is now finally getting painted
after some 15 years from a dark chocolate brown to a shade of white. I didn't
pick the color. Adrian did because he felt the dark room was too oppressive lol.
I prefer a butternut yellow color but it sure brightens the room. I am sure
when I am dead and gone it will all be painted a ghostly white and when they do
I will haunt it. In the 26 years I have lived here this is the first white
walls I ever had because when I left living in apartments I said I would never
have white walls again.
I was up early finishing cleaning
out the spare bedroom and Maria came with her husband Jesus Hernandez a little
after 8. I guess they ran into a snow storm coming down from Ogden. I gave
Maria a bunch of heavy jackets and other clothing that were just taking up
space. After Kyle video called Jesus and told him what to do I brought Maria
with me over to retrieve Luisana and we were at Bewilder by 10. They had a busy
night and were out of Originals and Chicken Garlic so I went to the downtown
Harmons to buy some after going to First America Credit Union to deposit $3,000
for payroll tomorrow.
I also called Emigration Harmon’s
and ordered 10 pounds of each of the types of brats and they said it would probably
be Saturday before they would be ready. I stayed at the kitchen and breaded 35
chicken Schnitzel before coming back home.
I
noticed a maintenance light came on in the FIT, I guess because I was down to
15 percent oil. I had to stop at Luckys to get Lemons where they had them 3 for
a dollar so I also bought Luisana some Oreos and Maria some Latino wafer
cookies that I knew Adrian had liked. Then I picked up Milagros took her to
Bewilder, brought some lunch back for Jesus, went to Home Depot to buy a wall putty
knife so Jesus could repair the wall where I had the movie projector once.
Then I decided to take a chance and head
up to Wal-Mart in Centerville to see if I could get my oil change. I was lucky
and no one was a head of me and it took less than a half hour to get it done
and it was only $54. So that fixed the dash board light. After coming back to
the house, I didn’t go out again.
Emigration Harmons called me and said the brats were actually done and I
could pick them up tomorrow. Jesus left to go back to Ogden at 6 to pick up
their toddler and said he would finish up tomorrow. I gave him $20 for gas
money which he was reluctant to take but I knew he probably could use it.
I finished my journal from 1990 finally
and saved it to my Yahoo Mail archives and have sent the months as I finished
them to Brandon Burt. He’s mentioned quite a few times in my journal for that
year.
Such
a busy day, full of driving around the city, so much that I bet I put 50 miles
or more on the FIT. Jesus, Maria Hernandez, and their little toddler were over
about 8:30 after hitting another snow storm coming down from Ogden. The little
boy I think is named Masut but I am not sure as I am not familiar with the name.
He’s a very sweet, well-mannered boy and I could tell he is well loved. He just
loved the pups when he met them and was not timid around them at all and the
pups were well behaved. I brought out some crayons for him that I had left over
from teaching.
I took Maria and Luisana off to work but
left right away because I had to go to Lowes and get another gallon of paint.
Bringing it back to the house, I found a Latino Cartoon network so the toddler
could watch some television, then took off to go to Emigration Harmon’s to pick
up the brats that I had ordered. That area above 13th East was
covered with heavy snow but I managed okay.
Coming back down, I stopped at America
First Credit Union to pull out $2100 to pay the gals. I really hate the
downtown branch. No matter how many people are in line they never have more
than two tellers and if people are dealing with issues its always a long wait.
I was standing in line for at least 15 minutes before I could see a teller to
make a transaction. It’s almost like they discourage people to use live
tellers.
In any case, from there I went back to
the house to check in with Jesus and take the pups for a walk. I gave the toddler
a bowl of milk and cheerios which he ate some but I think he liked the graham
crackers better.
Well, Kyle called and said I didn’t need
to pick up Milagros because her brother in law was going to bring her. But I
left the house again as I needed to pull out $650 for the Maria who works now
at Papi’s. So, I drove to the Pioneer Branch of AFCU and was up at a teller
window almost immediately. I transferred $1000 into my money market account and
withdrew the money then head out to the Truck Wash.
With all the rain and snow we had, they
weren’t very busy but I bet they will be. Luis Alberto was advanced his pay of
$800, so he didn’t need to get paid. He was painting the office which will be
Orange and White. I gave Maria her pay envelope and then went over to Main
Street Meats which is just over two streets from the truck wash.
However, they mixed up my order and gave
mine away to another customer. They were quick to rectify it so didn’t have to
wait long before bringing the chicken back to Bewilder. I picked up some lunch
Maria made for Jesus Hernandez and
brought it back to the house for him.
I called my car Insurance agent as
Horace Mann couldn’t process my payment because it was on the old debit card.
While on line with her, I had my agent
look up to see if I could get a cheaper rate because I just paid $550 to Horace
Mann which they bill me quarterly. I was told that Progressive Insurance would
save me around $500 a year if I switch but I won’t be able to until May
now.
Later Jesus informed me that he would
probably need another gallon of paint to finish the room. So, Kyle had me head
back to Lowes to pick up another gallon and on the way back I was almost
sideswiped on the freeway by a speeding car who tried to get ahead of me. Good
thing I am insured again the way it’s so crazy with distracted drivers.
Anyway, once I was back home around 5, I
took the pups for another walk and the sidewalks were clearing up. After that I
just stayed home, fed the pups, and kind of entertained the toddler by watching
some cartoons. I had bought small teddy bear years ago for Gay Men Allowed to
pass around and I kept it all these years so yesterday I gave it Maria to give him
to keep and now they are inseparable. The teddy bear will be well loved.
10 February 2024
Saturday
Another
busy day but not quite as bad as yesterday. Kyle wanted me to deposit $2500
into the money market account and withdraw it for his payroll in Orem. I went
to the Credit Union in Lee’s market and also withdrew $240 to pay Sarah. I came
home and put the $2500 in Kyle’s room and then took Luisana into Bewilder. I
gave Sarah her money but had to go get dish soap, romaine lettuce and red
cabbage for the kitchen.
I also went to the Pioneer Branch and
was surprised that they close on Saturdays but withdrew Yolanda’s $180 pay and
also $300 to pay Jesus Hernandez for painting the spare room from the ATM. Luis
was working with his dad so I gave him $40 also so everyone was paid today.
Jesus, Maria and their son Mesut came to
the house to finish off trimming and Kyle had to come up to retrieve some
clothes and medicine, pick up the payroll, and get a haircut. I only saw him as
he was leaving Bewilder.
There I took an inventory of what we had
on hand so Kyle could order supplies and while there I breaded about 26 chicken
schnitzels. The chicken breasts they gave me were in 10 to 14 ounces so I had
to cut them before I could roll them out. I did about 5 ounces but they seemed
really large.
Anyhow, I finally left at 5, came home
walked the pups again and fed them until I started putting the spare room back
together making beds. I have no idea where I am going to put things that will
no longer go in there. Oh well. Adrian said he might come by either tomorrow or
Monday.
11 February 2024 Sunday
This
morning, I saw a message from Andy Dalrymple saying that Roy Zang is upset with
him and unfriended him. I just stayed out of it because I have enough on my
plate Besides Roy is dealing with some
skin cancer issues which probably contributed to some of his having little
patience over fussing about Gay issues. Chuck Whyte said he’s switching doctors
to the new Gay Clinic that is replacing the Utah AIDS Foundation, Times they
are a changing.
My new red wallet came today. My old one
fell apart big time. So, I put in all my new cards and put my keys on it. I
like to keep my keys and wallet together. I paid $100 to my Synchrony account
for the Ashley furniture today. Then I went to Lucky’s to buy some treats for
Luisana and some produce for the kitchen and when I went to check out it
wouldn’t accept my debit card which freaked me out so I paid with my credit
card.
I went to pick Luisana up but she was
already it work and had forgotten to tell me. Once there she said they were out
of mayonnaise so I went to the Chef Store next to Target down on 3rd
West and when I returned she said oh and we out of ketchup which she also
needed for to make the fry sauce. I was a little frustrated but I thought she
is just 19 years old and can’t be entirely expected to run the kitchen so I ran
back down there and put both of the items on my credit card. Since it’s Super
Bowl Sunday we weren’t sure whether we will be super busy or super slow. I left after chopping up some red cabbage and
I stopped at Dollar Tree for cleaning supplies and my debit card worked there so
I have no idea what the issue was.
Adrian called me this afternoon and said
he was coming over tomorrow at noon and that he would spend the night so I
spent the rest of the time home cleaning and mopping and putting things back in
order. I did go back down to bewilder at 4:30 to check on things down there but
it was not busy at all so people must have stayed home to watch the Super Bowl.
So, I went on back to the house and worked some more cleaning.
Being not too familiar with either I
wonder did the NFL use Taylor Swift or did Taylor use the NFL? Too bad a
celebrity can't date a football player without America's fascists losing their
damn minds.
12 February 2024 Monday
I
had to cancel a dental appointment at Roseman this morning because it was at 10
and instead I went to take Milagros into work. From there I went to Papi to
retrieve the towel and Kyle was there
extremely stressed over the Terrain being on its last legs. He said he
is trying to find a place that would finance him for a new vehicle. He also had
me go to Home Depot and buy more “electric orange” paint for the shop while he
picked up some supplies needed for the kitchen.
In the afternoon Maria Hernandez texted me saying that they needed
tomatoes and mustard seeds for the red cabbage recipe, so I went to Lucky’s
where the tomatoes were cheaper and then to the Restaurant Depot to buy Mustard
seeds because I couldn’t find them at Luckys.
Adrian Villalobos finally came over
around 6:30 and we had a long talk about his moving back in and what it would
involve with him and Kyle just remaining friends and what kind of freedom he
would have living here bring people home. He said his court date for the
assault on Kyle list October is for March 19. After our visit he went off to
have dinner with Luisana and I was expecting him to spend the night when he
came home but didn’t. I made it clear to him this was his home and he could
come and go as he pleased.
Trump stated that he would let Russia
attack NATO countries and Tucker Carlson defended his decision not to question
Russian President Vladimir Putin about allegations that the Kremlin has ordered
assassinations of political dissidents. He said "Every leader kills
people. Some kill more than others," the former Fox News host said. Tucker
Carlson is one sick puppy if he believes that plus a Russian Stooge
13 February 2024
Tuesday
I
just could not go back to sleep after waking up at 2:30 this morning as my mind
was swirling about things I have no control over. Finally, around 3 I just got
up, made some coffee, and began to revise my 1993 Journal. It was a difficult
first half of the year with Jeff Workman leaving me and being betrayed by those
I thought were friends over my involvement with the Pillar Newspaper. Oh well.
Ancient history now. Dave Ball died last year, Brandon Creer has been dead for
several years, last I heard Todd Dayley left for Denver, and I have forgiven
Bobbie Smith and we are Face Book friends although he now lives in Minnesota. Finally, around 5:30 I was tired enough to go
back to bed and slept until nearly 7:30 to get up and start a new day.
I did not see or hear from Adrian today
so I have no idea where his head is at but I have done all that I can so I
won’t reach out any longer but let him decide where he wants to be. Kyle called
me this morning around 8:30 just to check in with me.
I took Milagros into work and she wasn’t
feeling well but stayed with Maria to work out their shift. She wanted Kyle to
fill out a rental agreement form showing her source of income so she can get an
apartment. Even though the towels were not dry I took them over to Papi’s
because Kyle will be there in the morning tomorrow and I went and picked up 10 lbs.
of chicken breasts from Main Street Meats. I also ordered 5 pounds of each of
the bratwursts from Harmons which I will pick up Thursday.
I really didn’t stay long at Bewilder
but just came home in case Adrian came over with his laundry which I said I
would do for him but of course he never did. It was a very pretty day out, in
the mid 40’s and no inversion. I also,
at last, went grocery shopping for myself at Lucky’s as I needed eggs, milk,
and butter plus a few other items because there wasn’t much in the house.
Is it just me or have Red MAGA hats
simply replaced white hoods? The
Judicated Rapist and former Republican Grifter President has allowed haters to
uncover their faces and crawl out under their rocks.
Even Hobby Lobby was proud to air a creepy foot fetish commercial during the
Super Bowl to promote their brand of far right Christian Nationalism. A Super Bowl 30 second spot cost $7 million
dollars. Think of how many hungry people this money could have fed.
14 February 2024
Wednesday
When
I taught elementary school Valentine’s Day was one of the 4 big special days
along with Halloween and Christmas. Not such much for me anymore.
It rained some overnight as when I
walked the pups this morning everything was still damp. I took Luisana into work and left with the
Papi’s towels which still had dried back to the house to use my dryer. I worked
on editing my Journal from 1993 until it was time to retrieve Milagros. At the
Grove apartments, Adrian was there and he came down with Milagros and gave me a
hug.
He said he was sorry about not coming
over yesterday but he had accidently bumped into a car where he lives and had
to deal with that and other things. He still said he was moving in to the spare
bedroom.
At Bewilder, Maria needed buttermilk to
finish the Ranch dressings as the buttermilk in the walk-in had expired. So off
I went to Glendale’s Smiths to get some. On the way over I dropped some stuff
off at Deseret Industries like the beaded curtain I had for years in the movie
room. At Smith’s I saw they had kidney and black beans on sale for 2 for a $1
and since I knew we were out of beans for the Chili I bought 8 cans.
I also bought some burn ointment for
Maria as she had really burned the crook of her arm from the fryer oil the
other day. After dropping those supplies off I took the towels to Papi’s and
then came back to Bewilder where I breaded 39 chicken breasts for schnitzels.
They didn’t seem to be busy at all but
may be they would be at night for Valentines. We were all out of a lot of items
as back up until an order comes in tomorrow.
I was home by 4:30 and it clouded back
up, looking like we might get some more rain when I gave the pups their second
walk before fixing them their supper. Kyle called around 9 as I was getting
ready for bed and asked if I would bring the large package that came the other
day down to Orem tomorrow and a spare pair of glasses as he had broken the one he
had with him. He said “MotR” Pizza’s grand opening is tonight and he sent me some
pictures by messenger. He said he had been looking at cars also to replace the
Terrain.
In the news there was a mass shooting at
the Kansas City celebration of them winning the super bowl. Republican are
complicit with and collaborators with American terrorists at this point.
15 February 2024
Thursday
What
a tiresome day being on the road so much. It rained last night and it was
slightly misting when I walked the pup. I went and gathered up Luisana and dropped her
off at Bewilder and then got on the road to head down to Orem to deliver a box
and another pair of glasses for Kyle at his Bismarck store. I think he mainly
wanted to show off all that he was working so hard on.
Bismarck is located on University Avenue
across the Mall down there and it was kind of hard to get too unless you really
knew where you were. He showed me around the space and then he took me in his
Terrain down into Provo to see his Pizza place in the residential complex
located at 602 East 600 North just a
few blocks from BYU. From there we went out to this research park south of
Provo where he has an office café.
It was wet and rainy in Utah county and
we were down there until almost 1 before heading the Car Max in South Jordan because
Kyle found financing to buy a car from them. He had all the paper work done but
he needed me because technically I was the buyer. He chose a 2021 Volvo and we
drove it away around 2:15 when I had to pick Milagros up to take her to a 3 o’clock
appointment to see an emigration lawyer at 960 South Main Street out of the
Legal Aid Society’s offices.
However, they sent her to Decker Lake
where I had taken Luisana last fall to have some document stamped with a seal. So,
I took her there and waited while my phone battery died so I couldn’t even look
on line at anything. Kyle went to Emigration Harmons to get the bratwurst so I
didn’t have to do that. It was around 4 when
I finally was able to bring Milagros to Bewilder and Kyle was there
waiting.
I
drove the FIT back to the house and drove with Kyle in the Volvo to retrieve
the Terrain that was left down at 114000 South. We first stopped at America
First, Pioneer branch to deposit $3000 in my Money Market Account to be able to
pay the gals tomorrow. It was almost 5:30 when of course we hit very heavy
bumper to bumper rush hour traffic all the way down there and it was about 6
before I was able to pick up the Terrain.
Earlier I asked Kyle if the Terrain had
gas in it and he said there was a quarter of tank. Well, they might have been
when he had it this morning but with all his driving around this morning as I
was driving away it was just above empty. I was stressed all the way home on
the Freeway worried that I would run out of gas. I got off on 6th
South and glad I did because the empty gas light came on but I pulled into the
Maverick on 4th West and 5th South. I put in $11 to get
home. Gas was $2.99 a gallon and the $11 filled me up to just below a quarter
so I must have been traveling on fumes. Oh well. All’s well that ends well.
When I finally came home it was after 6:30 and
I was surprised to see Adrian parked in the driveway. However, he was acting
really strange and got in his car and left. I have no idea what that was all
about unless seeing Kyle’s car he might have thought he was in the car. I was
so tired, more than tired exhausted from all the driving and waiting around and
worried about my phone being dead and stressed that I might run out of gas on
the freeway. I hadn’t eaten since breakfast at 6 this morning and a donut down
in Provo.
16 February 2024 Friday
It
was a busy day but not like yesterday.
After taking everyone to work and ordering some more chicken breasts I
spent much of the day going to my credit union pulling out money for payrolls. It
rained for much of the day also. At the downtown branch I deposited $1200 and
pulled out $700 each for Luisana, Maria, and Milagros and $240 for Sarah, the
Bewilder Crew. Kyle has a new employee named Lyndi who gets $522 also for
Social Media.. Later I went to the Lee’s
Market AFCU branch to get money for the Papi’s crew Maria, Luis Alberto, and
Yolanda. Maria gets $650, Luis $800, and Yolanda $180. The kid also gets $40.
This afternoon Adrian came to the
house and finally moved his things into his room. He works from 2:30 to 11:30
at night. I gave him $40 for gas as he is broke right now having to pay $600
for bumping into his landlady’s car and getting it fixed. We visited a bit and said I would go to the
store and get him some juices and other things he likes for breakfast.
Kyle called me several times, mainly
asking about Adrian. I know he has ambivalent feelings about Adrian coming
home. However, he mostly sounded upbeat for a change as I guess things are on
track down in Orem.
I finished editing 1993 before going
to bed. I think what I wrote on the last day of that year summed it all up. “So
thus ends 1993, another very unusual year. It started out with so many tears
and heartaches. Jeff Workman was leaving me and I was leaving the LaFrance
apartments. I started the Pillar Newspaper in February and was hurt deeply by
those I trusted the most. I walked away from my Faerie past in May and set my
course onto if not better, newer paths. I became the director of the Stonewall
Library in June and was dedicated to its removal and set up at the new location of the Utah
Stonewall Center for the next six months. I went to Boston and New York City in
July and August where I saw “Angels In America” on Broadway which was
wonderful.
I
was sad to learn that John Reeves is HIV positive and my longtime friend James Connelly
moved in with me last October. I taught a nine week Unites States History class
in the fall. And on the 27th of November I met Michael Ray Romero my future
lover. Benjamin Anderson and I became close friends during the fall and my
life’s journey has ended on a happy note.”
MAGA Republicans don’t care that Trump
is about as faithful to the Constitution as he was to his wives and about as
abusive to democracy as he is towards women.
They are so deluded that Trump will declare he built a wall and Mexico
paid for it and accomplished all that President Obama and Biden have done
and his minions will believe him.
Remember how outraged Conservatives
were learning President Clinton cheated on Hillary while now silent as the
grave about Stormy Daniels and Melania when she was pregnant.
These
people have no decency just guns, thoughts, and prayers
Russia's useful idiots in the Republican
Party are strangely quiet about the death of Alexei Navalny, Putin's opposition
leader who was a political prisoner after Russian agents tried to poison him in
2020. His death comes less than a week
after the vile Trump said he would encourage Russia to attack NATO and Tucker
Carlson came home after praising American's main enemy who the MAGA crowd seems
to adore. And House Republicans think
immigrants are a bigger threat to the United States than a nuclear armed Russia
which is ruled by a despot.
17 February 2024
Saturday
It
was a clear beautiful day compared to yesterday’s wet weather. I fixed
breakfast for me at 6:30 and Adrian when he woke up after 9. I had to leave after that to take Luisana
into work. I handed Sarah her pay and
then went out to Papi’s to deliver the pay for those who work there. Coming
back to the house I had Adrian go with me to Smith’s to get groceries that he
liked and some other incidentals. He
pays Tutu to make him lunch and dinner that he takes to work. I know it’s a
hard adjustment for him to be back here, living upstairs with so many memories
of being with Kyle downstairs. Milagros sent me a message that her husband
would take her to work so I didn’t have to go out again after walking the pups
this afternoon.
I have been eating a lot of top ramen lately
that I don’t think I had eaten in 30 years or more since I was extremely
poor. I am not eating it now because of
that, just that it’s simple and easy. Plus, what I don’t eat of the noodles I
put into the pups’ supper.
I
was in for the evening when Kyle came home surprisingly early around 7 to
install the ceiling light fixture in
Adrian’s room. However, he needed a part so I got dressed and went with him to
Lowe’s for it. However, when back at the house the light fixture he had bought
was not working right and so he has to return it.
He then went off to Bewilder to fix an
issue there before returning around 9:30. He was complaining about some issues
with the gals in the kitchen and I thought, well the kitchen needs a manager
but Kyle has spread himself out way too thin this month.
I was thinking of Bill Poore, whose
birthday was last week and while editing my 1993 journal and remembering all
the people I knew and loved now gone, I
became a bit melancholy and feeling worn out. Typing up my journals from 30
years ago I am seeing the names of all
these people who are gone. It seems as if at a certain age every loss opens
wounds of the memories of all those we have lost so the pain becomes
exponential... But like any tempest in the heart... It will subside but never
forgotten.
However, I do have young people in my
life who I get to share their journeys
for a while. And puppies, I have puppies who are a constant source of
joy and teaches me to live in the moment. and be happy.
All those children shot in Kansas City
just for watching a parade ... there are no words to describe how I loathe
Republican support of the NRA and those who support those Republicans. To bear
arms for a well-regulated militia does not mean everyone can own an assault
weapon or swords.
18 February 2024 Sunday
After
fixing breakfast for me then later for Adrian and taking the pups for their morning
walk, I went and retrieved Luisana to take her to work. I just had to drop her
off because Kyle needed me back at the house. He had the Build Team work truck,
that I pay $375 a month for, started with a jump to the battery and I followed
him down 900 West to Papi on 27th South and Third West. The truck
made it without any issues but it was quite loud without the catalytic
converter. I came back home and after that I never went out again.
Both Kyle and Adrian then went off
separately to do their things while I just stayed in for most of the day typing
up my journals. I decided to combine all my journals from 1985 to 1994 as a
record of 10 years as an Gay Activist in Salt Lake. I think that 10 years held probably
the most significant part of my long life when I changed the most from being a married
Mormon devotee to a Gay activist.
19 February 2024 Monday
It
is Presidents’ Day Holiday but that doesn’t mean a thing to me anymore. It was
a wet day off and on. I took Milagros to work and then over to Papis to
retrieve the wet towels to launder. I noticed at Bewilder there was only about 4
chicken schnitzels from all the ones I saw early yesterday. The gal out front
said that they did $5000in sales so Hopefully the kitchen did well also.
So, I stayed until nearly 1 in the
afternoon breading 35 chicken breasts before coming back home. Today was Adrian’s
day off but I never saw him nor Kyle for that matter. I spent most of my time when
not taking care of the pups, retrieving my journal entries that I had saved in
Yahoo mail so that I can have them from 1985 until 1994.
My sister Donna Jones called me this afternoon,
who I hadn’t spoken to for a while. She wanted to pick my brain about moving to
St. George. There’s little economic opportunities for Kevin down there in Bull
Frog as he has few work options and their rent is going up. So, she thought
they should move. She wants to get Kevin settled somewhere before she passes
away, Donna will be 75 this June. She
said that her granddaughter DeeDee quit Cal State Long Beach and moved off to
Sedona, Arizona without letting her parents know. Her grandson Kenny is 15
years old now. Fifteen years old for a boy is an interesting age. No longer
considered a child and yet not yet a man.
20 February 2024
Tuesday
It
was a chilly day but clear enough. I took Milagros into work and took the dried towels over to Papis. I
noticed that the kitchen was nearly out of original bratwursts so I had to go
to the downtown Harmons where I bought a dozen. Finally, back home I just worked
on the computer for most of the afternoon and made a Italian macaroni dish for
supper. The Junior High kids were hanging all over my yard again. If they
wouldn’t throw rocks and damage my property I wouldn’t care. I really didn’t
see Kyle at all today and only Adrian briefly when he came home with Luisana.
He asked me if I would do his laundry which I did.
21 February 2024
Wednesday
I
fixed Adrian some breakfast before I went to take Luisana into work. I didn’t
stay very long and only went to the store to buy them some grated cheese,
cherry tomatoes, and a red onion. Low on everything else but Kyle didn’t have
an order coming to day. Back at the
house I mainly organized more of my journals from 1985 to 1986.
I have been compiling my journals into a
10 year period from 1985 to 1994 in which probably occurred the most dramatic
change in my life when I went from living in Orange County CA as a married
Mormon title insurance examiner to moving to Salt Lake City permanently, coming
out of the closet and becoming a Gay activist and community builder, involved
with founding the Restoration Church, Wasatch Affirmation, Married and Divorce
Gays and Lesbians, Unconditional Support, Beyond Stonewall, the Gay and Lesbian
Community Council of Utah, the Utah Stonewall Town Meeting, the Utah Stonewall
Center, the Utah Gay and Lesbian Historical Society, the Pillar Newspaper,
Queer Nation, the Utah AIDS Quilt, and the Sacred Faeries.
I divorced during that time became a
pagan, a radio co-host for KRCL , a columnist for the Triangle Magazine, and a
political activist, all while living a separate life as an elementary school
teacher in a very homophobic state during the worse of the AIDS epidemic when Gay men were dying all around
me. No wonder I am exhausted but at least I can look back at a well lived life,
if a financially impoverished one.
Adrian went back to work today and he
was blasting Latino music in the front room so I was happy that he finally
feels comfortable being back home. I went and took Milagros to work at 2 and
still no food order so I guess it will be tomorrow.
When I came home I saw that the school
had already let out but there were a dozen or more boys hanging around my
corner. I thought no more about it until I heard kids throwing rocks at my
house again. I put Maxx and Taco on their leashes and went to confront the boys
who all moved over to the small park at Miami. I was yelling at them to stop
throwing rock at my house and a couple boys took off running and the other kids
told me who was doing it. I said that they need to stop or I’d get the cops
after them. I could tell the majority of the boys really didn’t want to get in
trouble.
So, I continued walking the pups around
the block when I saw two boys scribbling on the fence across from Carlos Bahena’s
house. I yelled at them what were they doing and they took off running towards
the school.
The group of boys who ride up and down
the street, more of an annoyance because of the loud noise, but really not hassling
anyone said for me to come look what the two boys wrote and they were drawing
dick pictures, writing Fuck and Nigger and such which I thought was weird
because one of the two boys was black. However, he looked Somalian not an African
America.
Anyway, after I caught them drawing
graffiti on my neighbors vinyl fence, I went and talked to the woman who lives
there and told her what the boys had done. She was also fed up so we both went
to the school and talked to the principal. The Latino and black kids had been
hanging out in front of the school but took off running when they saw us. The
Principal was very apologetic and knew who these hooligans were and recommended
that I file a report because she knows who the boys are but couldn’t legally
tell us their names.
The woman I went with is named Annie
which I hadn’t known for the entire 15 years or more she and her husband had
lived on Niles and Fernleaf. Our houses do not face so I never interacted with
her except a couple of times. She was hesitant to call the police because years
ago she was in trouble because a girl accused her of dragging her to the middle
school after catching her punch holes in her fence. She said she hadn’t but she
had to go to court over it anyway.
I said I would make it a police matter.
so, I called the non-emergency police and an officer called me later for the
details and a description of the boys. I told him that the principal knew who
they were. I said I didn’t want to press charges for damaging my siding but
just want it to stop and let it be known a report had been filed. Kids.
Anyhow, Kyle called me after reading my
post on Face book and I said I was fine just dealing with kids like I did when
I was a teacher. He said he was coming home early to work on paper work
downstairs so I fed the dogs in my bedroom and kept them behind the gate. I was
really fatigued from being at the computer so long that I went to bed around
8:30. I heard Adrian come home around midnight which woke me and I had a hard
time going back to sleep after that. I will have to get use to him being a midnight
raider. LOL.
22 February 2024 Thursday
Another
extremely busy day. There was snow on the ground from last night but it quickly
turned to slush as it was in the 40’s today. I fixed some malt o meal for my
breakfast, walked the pups, and fixed Adrian his breakfast before leaving to go
retrieve Luisana.
Kyle said to meet him at Papis after
dropping off Luisana which I did. He needed me for something to do with the
Toast program he uses. From there we went to Main Street Meats to get chicken
breast. I told Kyle I was going from there to Harmons to get the bratwurst
which I did but when I called him to unlock the card he never answered so I
ended up paying $145 for the meats. It pissed me off because Kyle always said
to call him when buying the meat so he could unlock the bank card. I feel like
all I do is subsidize Bewilder and I get nothing out of it to help me.
I went back home and when Kyle called I
was distant to him and said I was upset that he doesn’t answer my calls . He
apologized and kept saying he didn’t want me stressed but to be his rock but
then everything he does without keeping me in the loop stresses me out. I
didn’t sleep well last night so that may have been why I was so edgy.
Anyway, Kyle said Milagros was sick and
wouldn’t be coming into work. I went back to Bewilder to bread the schnitzel
and I saw that there were only a few left so they must have been really busy
yesterday. Kyle came to Bewilder and wanted me to go sign a lease for the
Coffee stand that is in the parking lot just north of Bewilder which he is
taking over in March.
When I came back to Bewilder the food
order finally came and I helped Maria put it away as there was only her and
Luisana working. I stayed and finished breading and frying up the chicken
breasts before heading home to feed the pups at 5.
After they had eaten, I turned around
and went back to the Kitchen to work. It got really steady and even busy at
times and my contribution was mainly doing up all the pots and pans and dishes
so Luisana could crank out the orders. I bet there were 75 or more people in
the place at any given time.
I worked really hard as the dishwasher keeping
up with everything so the girls wouldn’t be swamped doing all that on top of
the orders. Kyle had to be down in Orem so he didn’t return until 8 and I was
so exhausted by then that I went home but not before almost everything was
cleaned up to that point. The pups didn’t get their second walk. Oh well.
23 February 2024 Friday
Kyle
asked me at 9 this morning to go to the Credit Union and deposit $3000 in to my
account to be able to do payroll today. That wouldn’t be enough to pay everyone
today but it would at least Maria Hernandez, Milagros, Luisana, and the Maria
at Papi’s. So, I ran and did that, returned and fixed Adrian his breakfast and
walked the pups before going to retrieve Luisana to take her to Bewilder.
I
left her there and went down to Main Street Meat Market and got 10 more pounds
of chicken breast in case we need them this weekend as the place is closed on
the weekends. After dropping the chicken
off, I was able to come home. It was so beautiful out that I did some clean-up outside
of leaves and debris. At 2 in the
afternoon, I took Milagros back to work who was still not perfectly well but
wanted to come in.
I then went to the downtown America
First were I withdrew $2,750 of the
$3000 I had deposited this morning. The Bewilder crew each received $700 and Maria
at Papi’s received $650. Kyle said he’s waiting for more deposits to come in to
pay Luis, Yolanda, and Sarah tomorrow.
I didn’t need to do any work at Bewilder
so I just came home to rest, walk the pups again, and fix them their supper. I
also went to Lucky’s to get some eggs and produce like parsley, a red onion,
and cherry tomatoes for Bewilder.
At Lucky’s there was sitting outside a
young man cradling his dog with a Begger’s sign. So besides what I needed to
buy for Adrian’s breakfasts, I bought a bag of dog food and pulled out $10 to
give to the guy but when I left the store, the kid was gone. Well, best
intentions I suppose. I will keep the dog food in the FIT in case I come across
another homeless with a dog.
I spent the remainder of the evening and
night typing up my February journal from 1985 when I was still living in Orange
County, attending Overeaters Anonymous, married, and working at Ticor. I went to bed around 10 and shortly later I
heard Kyle come home because of the garage door opening and then around
midnight Adrian came home.
I was surprised but delighted when he
crawled in bed with me and the pups. I think he just needed to be held which I
did for most of the rest of the night. I know he needed to be comforted but I
didn’t get much sleep myself because I was not used to sleeping with anyone
except with the pups. Adrian was exhausted and snored LOL.
It’s a very bright beautiful full moon, lighting
up the sky. Maybe it’s just happy that we have come back. In the news Alabama’s
theocratic Supreme court declared embryos are children. So, is freezing embryos
in Alabama punished as child abuse? I know it would be a living child.
Christian Nationalists want to destroy
Democracy and replace it with a theocracy. If people do not vote Democratic they
are complicit with Republicans who are no longer fiscal conservatives, small government, and pro defense. That party
died when they chose Donald Trump to be the puppet of the Billionaire class
which use Evangelicals and the ignorant to stay in power.
24 February 2024 Saturday
Adrian
continued to sleep in my bed this morning. I didn’t get up myself until after 7
so as not to disturb him, I quietly went to the front room to give the pups
their morning treats and to have breakfast. I walked the pups, fixed Adrian
some breakfast, picked up Luisana but dropped her off so I could go to the
Credit Union.
I was going to pull out enough to pay
everyone but Kyle called and said he was going to pay Yolanda and Luis Jr. himself and tell Luis Alberto that he will pay
him $800 on Monday. So, I only had to draw out $240 for Sarah at Bewilder. On
the way back to the Kitchen, Kyle called and wanted me to come to Papi’s and I
thought what now, but it turned out he just wanted me to hand the money to
Yolanda and Luis Jr. and then tell me about his plans for the Coffee stand next
to Bewilder. He’s going to turn it into a soda, Donut, and sandwich place
rather than hot coffee. I guess he just wanted to share with me as I am his
sounding board I suppose.
I returned to Bewilder, paid Sarah her
salary and then started in on the Chicken Schnitzel. It was good that I picked
up some yesterday because we were down to 1. I stayed until around 12:30 and
checking, I noticed there wasn’t any sauerkraut on the line. Kyle had forgotten
to get some so I went to Restaurant Depot and bought a case on 6 Number 10 cans
and brought it back to the kitchen. We serve as many Reubens as we do almost
anything else so we had to have sauerkraut.
I
then came home and Adrian was getting ready to go into work and I gave him $20
for gas money. I saw that he had eaten his breakfast. Kyle called and said that
Milagros’ husband was taking her in tow work so I didn’t have to leave the
house.
I decided to change the sheets and
really clean my bedroom which I had kind of let go by spending so much time on
my old journals. I did laundry, changed my bedding, put things away that had
been scattered about and swept and mopped. I figured if Adrian felt like
sleeping in my room again I should at least keep it up.
Kyle came home around 7 to clean his
own space and do laundry also, and I only saw him briefly. I watched some
television on the history channel about H.H. Holmes the serial murderer of the
1893 Chicago World Fair, and a couple of other paranormal events before going
to bed around 10. When Adrian came home around midnight he went to his own bed,
so I took TJ with me and we slept with Adrian in his bed. He hugged me and fell
back to sleep. It took me a while but I doze off too.
25 February 2024 Sunday
I
did my usual morning routine, fixing breakfast for Adrian and me, and walking
the pups before going to take Luisana to Bewilder. While there I made a
complete list of all the products we use
so when I came home I typed up an Inventory list in English and then
translated it into Spanish. I wanted a list that the gals could use to check
and see what is needed for Kyle to order. That took a lot of my afternoon. Kyle
was home a lot working on getting the “Bismarck Express” soda shack up and
running. I hung some shift curtains in Adrian’s
room to help hide the sunlight that streams into his room in the morning. It was quite a nice spring like day in the 60’s.
26 February 2024 Monday
Kyle
texted me this morning that Milagros wouldn’t need me to pick her up but I
didn’t know if they had a key to get in so I went down there at 10 and no one
was there so I put the soup on and cheese. It was about 10:20 and still no one
had shown, which was unusual so I let Kyle know and then went to Papi’s to pick
up the wet towels and brought them back to Bewilder to wash.
Maria was there when I came back and she
said that she and Milagros had been at the doctors. It was only Maria and I until
around noon when Milagros arrived. I showed Maria the inventory forms I
had made and she really liked them
because I had them in English and Spanish.
I then went home to rest and wait for
Kyle to call and say the Chicken Breasts were ready after 3. I was delighted
when Adrian announced that he was bringing a boy to his room so I kept the pups
in my room and closed my door. I was happy and excited that Adrian was bringing
a boy home for sex and that he feels that this is his home.
When Kyle brought the chicken to
Bewilder I went back at 4 to make schnitzel because they were almost out. I
stayed until around 6 and then came home to feed the pups and Adrian said he
was bringing another boy up to his room so I kept the pups and me behind closed
doors until they were done romping.
Kyle came home just shortly after the
second boy left and Adrian was looking so happy and sheepish but thankful the
kid left before Kyle came home. Kyle was up in Adrian’s room to finish
installing an overhead light. They acted like they were getting along.
I was tired from all the running around
I did today and retired around 8 when Kyle and Adrian were talking in the
kitchen. I left them alone and went to bed.
27 February 2024
Tuesday
Adrian
slept down stairs with Kyle last night which didn’t surprise me as both he and
Kyle were probably horny. It snowed last night and with the wind chill it was
really cold walking the pups before Kyle and I went to Wells Fargo down by
Lucky’s. Kyle wants to set up a Business account on line for his three LLC
businesses, Vibe Faktory which is consulting, The Car Wash business, and The
Kitchen which includes Bewilder, and all the Bismarck Donut places. We
basically just went to see if they would do it and they said they could but we
will have to come back for another appointment for the actual setting up of the
accounts.
Kyle then had me go to Harmons to buy
some Brats as we were out of everything but the Italians. Harmons had a sale on
them 5 packages for $25 so I bought 5 each of the Originals, Jalapeno, and
Chicken & Garlic. I probably saved on half of what the 15 packages would
have cost.
Nonetheless, after delivering them to Bewilder
and helping a bit, I left and went to D.I. to buy a wicker basket for laundry
then I home by 11. Adrian was eating the breakfast I made for him and we visited
some. He was eager to tell me he had 3 sexual encounters yesterdays and one of
them was with Kyle. He said it was the first time he had ever done that. I
laughed and said hopefully it won’t be the last. I think being with other guys
will help him get over Kyle and hopefully will just use him for sex and not as
an object of his romantic affection.
I
said Kyle does love you and he loves me but he’s never going to be affectionate
the way Adrian needs right now. At least they now are friends with benefits and
each have their own spaces.
I didn’t have to do anything more at
Bewilder so was home on this very, very, cold day with wind chills making it
seem in the 20’s. The city issued an alert for the homeless to go to shelters and
transportation would be provided to them. I didn’t want to walk the pups again
because it was so cold but Taco can be so insistent.
I was in for the rest of the evening going
through my 1985 journal. I was alone for the evening because Kyle didn’t make
it home until after 8 and stayed downstairs and when Adrian came home he went
back out.
The news is so depressing. It seems that
younger people only care about their own interests and not social justice as
some interviewed said they wouldn’t vote for Biden or Trump.
28 February 2024 Wednesday
I
made French Toast for breakfast which I hadn’t had in a long time, and after
walking the pups I
I
took Luisana into work but just stayed a short time because I didn’t really
need to be there today.
I
finally called Utah First Credit Union for the payoff on the 2008 Ford Work
Truck and its $15,415.91 if paid off by March 9th. My account number
848120 which I didn’t have before. Kyle said that he may be able to list it for
a few thousand more because work trucks like that hold their value but it does
need a catalytic converter.
I worked some on my journal from
August 1985 skipping over May, June, and July because August was the year I
permanently returned to Utah.
Adrian asked to borrow $300 to pay a
lawyer so he can return to Columbia to see his mother. The Lawyer said that
because he had his social security, work permit, and driver’s license he should
have no problem going to Columbia and then back to Utah. I said I would “loan”
him the money because I know he needs to see his mother. I know I’d give
anything to see my mother again.
Anyway, I took Milagros to work and then
I went grocery shopping as I hadn’t really for myself in a while, mainly I had
been shopping for Adrian. However, I did buy the ingredients to make Adrian
some lasagna which I made when I came home as well as put some pinto beans on
to cook and I made green salsa for some Taquitos I bought. I made it kind of
like the sauce that Olvera Street in L. A. makes.
After Adrian went off to work I was
mainly home by myself all day and it was so much warmer than yesterday. It was
back in the 50’s again. I was kind of drained today I think from reminiscing
about 1985 and the move it took to come back to Utah and leave California
behind for good.
I was in bed when Kyle came home and he
came into my room to visit and tell me about all his ventures. He said that I
no longer have to go to the bank to deposit money to do payroll that he has
everyone on a set up. He said that the Bismarck Express shake north of the
Bewilder parking lot will be painted this weekend and hopefully opened soon. Well,
I can only hope it all works out well for him.
When Adrian came home after 11:30 I crawled into
bed with him and we held each other and I gave him a back massage before
returning to my own bed. An old man gets up to pee at night ha!
29 February 2024
Thursday
It
was a busy day as that after taking Luisana to work I went to the downtown
America First and deposited a $1000 from the Novio account into my Money Market
account then withdrew $300 to give to Adrian to help with his plans to go see
his mother sometime or another. Before he left for work he surprised me and
asked me to sleep with him tonight when he comes home from work as he said he
didn’t want to sleep alone. I went and
took Milagros to work and then to Main Street Meats to get 20 pounds of chicken
breasts. Bringing it back to Bewilder I made 40 chicken schnitzel and Kyle was
there as he said he has all the keys now for the Bismarck Express Shack which
he was excited about. The Brats I ordered
from Harmons was still not ready when I was done with breading the chicken so I
called Jim McMillan back as he had tried to call me several times just to
visit. I mainly had him get caught up with all of Kyle’s ventures which keeps
me busy and that Adrian had come home to live. After visiting for about a half
an hour I had to drive across town to Harmons to pick up bratwurst. It’s only
four and a half miles from the kitchen to Harmons but because of all the cross
town lights it takes about 20 minutes. After dropping the brats off at Bewilder
I was finally able to come home and feed the pups. Taco didn’t get his second
walk poor boy.
Well, it’s Leap Day so February was
extended by one day and February has been a very mild month weather wise. There
is very little snow in the valley but plenty of rain. Kyle spent a good portion
of the month wheeling and dealing in Utah County with his Bismarck Donut and
Motr Pizza enterprises and negotiating taking over the coffee shack by
Bewilder. I was busy much of the month playing interference with the Kitchen
because Kyle kind of let it go while he concentrated on these other businesses.
The old Ford Work truck was finally driven off from the south side of the
property which I was relieved to see go. Most importantly Adrian Villalobos
came back home and we created the old movie room into his room. I told Jim that
while I am really busy I feel like I have a family in my old age that cares for
me and I them.
MARCH
March
is certainly coming in like a lion. The wind blew fierce all night, a head of
winter storm predicted for the weekend to dump 6 inches of snow in the valley.
I didn’t sleep well from the noise from the wind against the house and knowing that
I had to be somewhere early this morning. Also, I am not used to sleeping with
someone and I held Adrian in my arms for much of the night besides getting up a
few times to pee. Of well this too shall pass.
Kyle had asked me yesterday to work at
Papi’s this morning from 8 to noon but I had to be there by 7:30 so he could
show me how to record the truck washes.
I actually was up at 5:30 to fix some breakfast for myself and Adrian so that I wouldn’t fall
back to sleep so I was really tired for most of the day.
So, I was at Papi’s and we had 5 commercial
accounts come through while I was there. I didn’t have to take any of the girls
in into Bewilder as they found their own way.
After I left Papi’s, Kyle had me bring some cash register equipment from
Papis to Bewilder and after dropping it off I went home to walk the pups as
they didn’t get a morning constitutional and Taco insisted I take him for one.
Kyle ended up canceling our meeting with
Wells Fargo as he didn’t have some of the documents requested to set up a
business account. So, I didn’t have to go with him at 2 after all.
Around 2:30 I went outside and started hoeing
some of the area on the corner of Fernleaf and Daleridge once school let out.
It was a nice warm day 63 degrees just windy and I wanted to be outside when
the kids walk past the house, to keep an eye on them and keep them moving. It
must have worked because no gathered here.
Accordingly, after 3 I went inside to
lay down and take a nap but then Kyle called and asked me to withdraw $400 to
pay Jesus Hernadez and his friend $200 each for painting the “Bismarck Express”
building which I did. It was a forest green and it was repainted a cream color
with a black roof.
No sooner was I home and got undress and
was fixing to feed the pups, Kyle asked if I would bring the sign post digger
that I had bought for the signs for his Turo business, down to Bismarck
Express. I really didn’t want to as I was so fatigued from lack of sleep and
had just been down there but he wanted to put drive thru signs in before the
weather turns really bad this weekend. Reluctantly I did. He wanted me to just
drop it off but as the Bewilder parking lot was filling up I was afraid to just
leave it. It was after 5 and I thought traffic would be bad anyway consequently I waited there until Kyle
arrived which was closer to 6. Only then was I finally able to come home.
However first I stopped at the Rose Park
Library and checked out two David Rosenfeld books from his K-Nines series and then I stayed home. Kyle came to the house around 7 and since the
curtains for Adrian’s room had come, I helped him install the rods over the two
windows and hang the blue black out curtains.
So, Adrian now has curtains which will darken the room for him in the
morning while he still sleeps.
I finally went to bed around 10 and
when Adrian came home around midnight I was going to join him but he said he
was going downstairs to sleep with Kyle. Sleeping with Kyle means sex but
sleeping with me just means cuddling and actual sleeping ha!
2 March 2024 Saturday
The
wind blew all night before the approaching storm. I did manage to fix Adrian
his breakfast as he was up early doing his English class and walk the pups
before going to get Luisana. While there she said they were out of house salad
so I said I would go to Smith’s and get enough to get them through the night as
it was a busy night last night. Anyhow, when I went to pay at Smith’s I noticed
that both my debit card and the Novo card were missing from my wallet and must
have fallen out. I was a nervous wreck but paid with my credit card and
fortunately thank providence I found my debit card laying on the ground next to
the Honda Fit and some ten feet away the wind must have blown the Novo card. I
praised Providence how lucky I was that no one else had found them as the
parking lot was quite full. I repositioned them inside the wallet instead on
the outside folders so they can never fall out again. I considered myself
extremely fortunate. Later Kyle called me saying that Luisana was upset about
something going on at the kitchen but he was at a meeting and couldn’t deal
with it so I rushed back to Bewilder and the issue was that the power went out
for the building. Evidently the same transformer that blew last September went
out again. It happened before Luisana had actually started prepping so Kyle had
us check on what was working and what wasn’t as evidently the place was on
different circuits. The front of the house was without power also and all of us
Sarah, Luisana, and Giggles waited, hoping the power would come back on but it
never did. Giggles was able to serve beer so she stayed open for a few
customers who ventured in but Kyle had us close the kitchen and I took Luisana
home. I gave Giggles my phone number to call if the power ever came back n but she
texted me that she even closed and went home around 1. Then Kyle called and
said the payment system he set up for Sarah, Milagros, Luisana, and Luis
Alberto never deposited money into their accounts so he asked me to go withdraw
$2400 for their pay. He had money in the Novo account and thank Providence I
found both my AFCU debit card and Novo card or I would never have been able to
do the transaction. So, I drove to the AFCU in Lee’s Market and it was
beginning to rain snow pellets. After retrieving the cash, I drove down to the
Grove Apartments where Milagros had me come in and I gave her the family’s pay.
It was storming by then and the power was still out at Bewilder so I knew we
wouldn’t be open for the night especially as a blizzard blew in. At 2 in the
afternoon came the snow storm right on time.
I made a pot of corn chowder and was planning on reading Good Dog Bad Cop
David Rosenfelt’s latest detective novel
but instead took a two hour nap. I was up by 4:30 and Taco was mad at me for
not going on a second walk. I said “Look outside. You are crazy if I am taking
you around the block so you can sniff and pee on trees. “During the time I was
napping a blizzard buried the landscape in 6 inches of snow or more. Bewilder was
still closed but doubt if many or any people were crazy enough to be out
tonight. I had food and snacks and heat in the house so I put on my flannel
night shirt and called it a day for I was not going anywhere on an evening not
fit for man or beast. At least it's not subzero and actually just in the low
30’s. When Kyle came home I had just finished feeding the pups and he wanted to
share that he may be taking over some sport bar restaurants that will serve
food and beer. I just sat and listened to his dreams and my only comment was I
hope he doesn’t over extend himself and stress himself out. At this point all I
can be is a sounding board for him to share his ambitions with. So, after a strange day I went to bed after
doing some laundry for Adrian who came
in around 11:30. I got up to wish him a good night and he said his friend
Gabriella was coming over for a bit. She must be a brave soul to venture out on
a night like this.
3 March 2024 Sunday
Kyle
sent me a text that the power was back on at Bewilder so I went outside to
clear a path for the pups. We had 4.9 inches of snow out here by the airport
almost as much as the 5 inches that fell at Sundance. I was out early clearing
my driveway and sidewalks before going to bring Luisana to Bewilder. There I cleared the steps
and walkway where ice was beneath the snow. Once the sun came out, everything
melted on the roads and walks, but I did my civic duty. Not bad for a 73 year
old man.
As soon as I came home I had a
message from Luisana that they were almost out of rolls for the brats and was
out of Bread for the Reubens. So, I went to the Chef Store near target because
they are the only places open on Sunday where I could get restaurant style
bread and bought enough to bring back to Bewilder. After that I was mostly home after going grocery
shopping at Luckys.
Adrian went off to work and I did
his laundry and remade his bed ad just stayed home for much of the rest of the
day except when Adrian asked if I’d buy some Cokes and Sprite for the
refrigerator which I did. I went to
Smiths hoping they had a sale but they didn’t so ended up paying more than I
would have at Luckys.
Anyway, I typed up some of my 1985
Journal and went to bed after hearing Kyle come in around 7. I got up to pee
and noticed the toilet wasn’t flushing properly so I asked Kyle for the plunger
he had downstairs but he said he would come up to deal with it. I think Adrian
might have been flushing these so called flushable wipes which they really
aren’t.
Anyhow, I was asleep when Adrian
came home with Gabriella who last night said kept him up late visiting.
Gas prices are up and down. At times
they are 20 cents below $3.00 and other times 20 cents more. The news doesn’t
indicate why.
4 March 2024 Monday
I
crawled into bed with Adrian for a little bit this morning before getting up to
get ready for the day. I fixed some breakfast, gave the pups their morning
snacks, fixed Adrian his breakfast before taking just Maxx and Taco for a walk.
TJ didn’t want to go. While I was frying up potatoes for Adrian I burned my
right ring finger pretty badly on some hot grease. Ouch. It raised a big water
blister on it. I went off to pick of Milagros and took her into Bewilder then
over to Papi’s to retrieve the wet towels.
Back at Bewilder, I met the kid that
Kyle has hired, named Hector, who drives up from Utah County in the Terrain who
will be operating the Bismarck Express shack. He is bilingual so he can speak
to the gals as well as to me. I know why Kyle also hired him because he’s a
tall, dark, and handsome Latino besides being competent.
Anyway, Kyle wanted me to go with
him to Wal-Mart where we bought two shopping carts filled with Coke products to
bring back to the shack because the Coca Cola company hadn’t set up their
machine there yet. While out Adrian texted and said that he needed to go to the
dentist because of a broken molar but he didn’t know where to go and didn’t
have the funds.
So, I came back to the house and
drove him down to the Urgency care at Redman Dental School. We got there a
little after 12 but all the students were at lunch until 1 so we had to sit and
wait in the lobby. I took my book Good Dog Bad Cop to read while
waiting. At one point Adrian rested his head on my shoulder and took a nap. It
was the first time anyone showed me affection in public. Adrian had listed me on his information form
as his “abuelo” or grandfather.
At one o’clock Adrian was seen right
away and I sat for two hours reading my book while waiting. I did go in at one
point to agree to the plan they had set up for him that would cost between $160
and $230 depending on the damage they find.
It was after 3 when Adrian was done and
he felt better and it cost about $160 so that wasn’t bad at all. He has more
broken molars that we made an appointment to come back on March 26 at 2:30.
We stopped at the Pioneer Branch America
First where I pulled out $500 to give to Adrian so he can pay off what he owes
in rent to that place in Bountiful so he can
retrieve the rest of his clothes and things to bring home. I know Kyle
still cares about Adrian because he called several times to see how he was
doing.
Back at the house, I gave the pups a
second walk, still no TJ, and then called my sister Donna Jones who had tried to
call earlier. She mainly wanted to inform me that Kevin and she will be moving
to Henderson, Nevada in April where she found an apartment she liked and there
would be more opportunity for Kevin’s employment than Bull Frog. We had a good
visit.
I was about starving when I was
finally home as I hadn’t eaten but a bite since breakfast. Adrian must have
been hungry too as he ate a container portion of Lasagna I had made. I had to
give him a straw because his mouth was still numb and he couldn’t drink his Sprite.
Nevertheless, he went off to the gym
and I retired early and finished reading David Rosenfelt’s book. I just like
his style and plotting plus all the characters are familiar to me.
Adrian never came home tonight and Kyle
came in around 8. He came up to tell me about how the Express was coming along,
and that Tutu Negron came to help out. Kyle is going to employee her for an
after school job at Bismarck Express. So that was my day.
In the news the Supreme Court
unanimously declared that states could not keep the convicted rapist off the
ballot just in time for the Republican Super Tuesday.
5 March 2024 Tuesday
It
was weird that nothing I posted this morning showed up on my own page. FB is having problems or I am. My Face book account on my Samsung Tablet and
phone both said my FB account had expired and won't let me log back in weird
saying any new password I try to create is an error but my desk top so far is
fine. I’m not sure how to fix it on my phone and tablet. Oh well. Later I learned that META that owns Face book
was having major glitches so it wasn’t just me.
I took the pups for a walk. Fixed Adrian
and me some breakfast and then went off to retrieve Milagros. At work, Maria
Hernandez said she wasn’t paid last Friday, so I called Kyle and he said he
would get back with me but I wanted her to have her money right away so I went
to the credit union and withdrew $700 from my line of credit. However, when Kyle finally did
call back I said I had taken care of it and he was mad for some strange reason.
I said what was the difference between me paying and you paying me? But he said
he didn’t want me to do it ever again so I guess I am done bailing out payroll.
I wasn’t upset I just figured Kyle was under major stress trying to get the
Bismarck Express’s coke machines in which took all day.
I stayed and did up 10 pounds of chicken
breasts as schnitzels and ordered 20 more pounds I will pick up tomorrow. I
also ordered more brats from Harmons which will be ready tomorrow after 4. Ugh
because that means I will hit traffic. Anyhow, I stayed and helped Maria do
some pots and pans as she said she was kind of tired and I love her to death. I
left, however, around 12:30 taking the Papi’s towels home with me.
I was just laying down when I heard
another rock thrown at the house. Some Northwest Middle School kids were hanging around Fernleaf Street rather
than walking home. They throw rocks at my house, run through people's yards and
block traffic on the street. The School principal is frustrated as well. I have
called the police when I caught kids drawing obscene graffiti.
I wish parents would have their kids go
home after school instead of gathering in groups of 20 or more. I seem to be
the only retired adult at home to monitor the area. I am not a grumpy old man
as I used to be a teacher myself. I just don't like kids throwing rocks at my
house or causing fights. I can't even take a nap with kids throwing rocks.
I went out to go shoo them away from my
corner and they just stare at me like they were daring me to do anything. I was confronting about 20 of them to go home
instead of hanging out in my yard and I was surprised that an officer wasn't
that far behind me. They were still roaming up and down Fernleaf in packs until
almost an hour after school had let out.
Adrian was gone for most of the day
out with Luisana, and Kyle called me a couple of times to say that he met the
new owner of Curry Connect named Jason, the Indian guy who was the manager of
the restaurant for Naveen said that Naveen Kumar Pavuturi and his Indian crew
all returned to Indian. So, Kyle is just out of the $10,000 but Kyle never
expected to ever see the money and he likes Jason and said he would now go back
down there to eat. I think that kind of made his day.
I stayed home this evening and kind
of went to bed around 9 and slept until Adrian came in. He went down stairs to
be with Kyle and when he came back up I climbed in bed with him, gave him a
back massage and hugs then went back to my own bed. Today was Super Tuesday where primaries were
held for Presidential nominations. I am too old to get too worked up anymore. Biden
is President for the working class. Trump appeals to the wealthy and idiots.
They say the Generation Z voters aren’t voting much and will decide the
election in November.
I
did my morning routine of fixing breakfast for both Adrian and me as well and
walking the pups before going to take Luisana to Bewilder. It was a beautiful
warm day. The Bismarck Express was open for business today with signs and flags
waving out-front. I then went to Papi’s to deliver the towels and Louis Alberto
washed the Fit which needed it from all the highway grit from the rain and
snow. I went from there and picked up 20 pounds of chicken from Main Street
Meat Market before heading back home. But not before getting a Dr. Pepper at
the Express for the first time.
At the house I started doing some of
Adrian and my wash and putting away the clothes he brought from Bountiful. When
Adrian came home from the gym he said that he really wanted to buy a new bed
frame and while I was hesitant to depart with the wooden poster bed that I had
for 26 years, as it was Mike Romero’s and my first bed, I finally relented and said
I don’t care but Adrian would have to figure out what to do with the poster
frame and the bunk bed that I am still paying off. I guess since I know after I am gone all of
this won’t matter anymore than Bill Poore’s possessions do to him. Still, I was
kind grieved that Adrian would want all these changes right now when I had just
paid nearly a $1000 since he had returned to get him settled in. He borrowed
$300 for a lawyer, and I paid $500 his
February rent in Bountiful, and $160 for his broken molar. Oh well.
I had to leave to take Milagros in
to work and hurried home to be there before the middle school let out. I
started cleaning up the yard so that I would be outside when the herd came down
the street but I was surprised by how few did and no one gathered at all on any
corner. A couple of boys stopped and said they saw my Face Book post and only
one Latino kid was surly and said I had no right to film them and especially
when they were down on Niles and Fernleaf. However, two black kids apologized
for yesterday and I shook their hands. I said I just wanted the rocks being thrown
at my house to stop. I also saw a cop
car drive by so I wonder if word got out so that the kids wouldn’t just be
hanging out after school on Fernleaf. Even the dirt bike that zooms up and down
the blocks, which is part of the attraction for the kids, was absent
today. Anyhow, I was pleased how quiet
it was and kids just walked home like they should be doing.
While out in the yard I was
surprised that some purple crocuses had sprouted and bloomed. A sure sign of an
early spring.
At 3:30 I drove all the way to the
Emigration Harmon’s just for them to say the brats weren’t ready and didn’t
know when they would be. I was told yesterday they would be ready after 4 so it
would been nice to have had a phone call to save me a 45 minute wasted trip
across town and back. I was so pissed
and tired because it’s not an easy drive up to 17th East and 13th
South from the house because of all the stoplights. I will not ever go at 4
anymore because then I hit heavy traffic leaving down town and on the Freeway
coming home. I am too old for that shit.
I had brought a salad home from
Bewilder earlier and had that for dinner but it didn’t really hit the spot. Oh
well. As I said, it was a gorgeous day and in the evening while everyone was
away, I finished typing up May from my 1985 journal. I also reread some of my 1983 and 1984
journals for some names, places, and dates that I didn’t include in 1985. I
went to bed around 9:30 listening to songs from the 1970’s and heard Adrian
come in around midnight from Newrest. I didn’t join him tonight figuring we
both needed our rest.
Well super Tuesday had Nikki Haley drop
out of the Republican Race so it with be round 2 for President Biden and the
traitor in November.
The Christian Right Wing especially
Evangelicals have taken over the Republican party and they are why they support
sociopathic Donald Trump because they know he will be an end to their agenda to
control America. Trump wants to be
President only to avoid prosecution for his many crimes. The chief justice of
Alabama's Supreme Court cited the Bible to rule in the IVF decision. The U.S.
Court who lied and over turned Roe vs. Wade is controlled by Conservative
Catholics.
Oh well I won't live long enough to hear
young people whine about the new America because they didn't take the time to
vote. Trump will have a nice
concentration camp for Migrants, Muslims, Trans, and Gays.
7 March 2024 Thursday
I
fixed myself a waffle and coffee for breakfast and then Adrian’s breakfast,
which is always scrabble eggs, rice, then either a waffle, pancakes, fried potatoes
or Masa Harina fried bread. When Adrian got up to eat he said he missed me
climbing into bed with him last night and asked if I would when he comes home
tonight. Of course I will.
I also walked the pups before heading
off to take Luisana to work. It had rained last night and it was raining
lightly most of the morning. I called on the bratwursts and the meat market
manager and heard that their main guy who grinds the meats was ill with a
sudden medical emergency and they were having a hard time getting the seasoning
packets so the bottom line was that it would be tomorrow at the earliest before
we can get our order from them.
Luisana and I were the only one in this
morning to open up because Maria was late for some reason. I told Kyle about
the brats and he asked me to go to the downtown Harmons and buy a dozen of original
and Italian which we were out of. Luisana said they needed tomatoes also so I
went to Restaurant Depot and bought a case while I was out.
When I came back Maria was in
and they were getting busy with lunch
orders so I stayed until 1 washing pots and pans and other dishes so Maria
wouldn’t have to later. Anyway, Hector at the Bismarck Express leaves at 1 and
Kyle takes over in the afternoon so I went to get a drink and then came home. It
was still damp and cold out and Adrian was getting ready to go to work. I have
resigned to letting him get a new bed frame and I guess Kyle will sell the
other wooden poster frame.
I
was laying down when I heard a knock at the door several times. I was reticent
to answer it as I wasn’t dressed but at 3 I put my pants on to walk the pups
and when I went outside, this boy Damien who lives in the pink house kitty-corner
to me on Daleridge and Fernleaf said to look at my garage. Guess whose garage
just got tagged? A large penis was spray painted in gold on the garage door and
some black paint starting to spell suck on a corner of my driveway. Damien said
he videotaped one of the boys running away and my neighbor Annie came over and
said she saw them doing it. They were the same little shitheads who had drawn
dicks on her fence. The tall black kid’s name was Amed or something like that.
So, I called the non-emergency police
number and posted on Face book about the graffiti. Kyle saw it and was so mad
he closed the Bismarck Express and brought Tutu Negron home to the house. He
called the police also, city councilmen and said that I had been targeted
probably for being Gay but I am not sure about that. My Pride flag was getting
ragged so I took it down a couple of months ago and hadn’t replaced it but
still, I had one up always before. These kids are the same who drew on a fence
across the street and I think I may have been targeted more because of making
the kids move along and having posted pictures of the gang of kids from
Tuesday.
Kyle installed new lights and cameras
above the garage door getting rid of my old garage lanterns. The police finally
came about an hour and a half nearly 5:30 before I could make a statement.
Right before they came, a police officer out of uniform had approached me with
a picture of my neighbor Victor and asked if I knew him. The officer was the
same one I spoke to on Tuesday who had come up behind me that day when I was
dealing with kids on my property. He asked if I knew anything about him, which of
course I didn’t. Debbie, who walks her pooch around the block, just happened to
be in front of the house at the same time and I showed her what the kids had
down and we both told what we knew about Victor, which was nothing more than he
kept two huskies and bit not his yard up. Evidently he has some serious
warrants out him which of course I wasn’t told any more than that.
I told the two police officers about the
vandalism and that it’s been going on for a while and that the boys that spray
painted my garage was known to the principal and Annie knew the name of one of
the kids and Damien said the black kid’s name was Amed. Afterwards the police
went to talk to Damian because he had a video of one of the boys and they also
went and talked to Annie.
Kyle finished installing the lights and
cameras over the garage and I took some graffiti remover I had in the garage
from years ago which took the gold spray paint right off, but the black spray
paint in the concrete, it didn’t do anything. I used dick begone remover and
all is well now. The police said they would do a drive through when school gets
out from now. The undercover officer who used to work at the Middle School
knows the principal well and said he would talk to her tomorrow. So, all well
that ends well.
Kyle came back to the house after
dropping Tutu back at the apartment and we talked a little about Adrian’s other
sister Joanna and her husband Jesus Pereira possibly coming to stay at the house
when they come to America to work. They will share Adrian’s room so that is In
the works.
Well, that was my excitement for the day
and I was in bed by 10. When Adrian came home after midnight I was already
laying in his bed as he wanted me to do.
8 March 2024 Friday
I
spent the night in Adrian’s bed cuddling him along with TJ who has to be with
me or whines and scratches at the door. So, he’s piled on the bed also. My
burnt finger was painful last night as the skin came off where it had blistered
but I had put ointment on it and bandaged it well.
I
was up by 7 to fix breakfast for Adrian and me as well as walking the pups on
this cold morning, Adrian was still asleep when I left to pick up Luisana who
wasn’t feeling well, sick to her stomach.
I went back home after dropping her off at Bewilder because I thought
the school officer would come by but didn’t.
I spent the time making chocolate chip
cookies because I wanted to give something to the Damian boy who looked after
me the other day. However, after the first batch was out of the oven, the oven
door handle came off again. The oven was still hot and it was a bitch trying to
line up the holes to reattach the handle that holds the two parts of the door
together. Even with a bad hand I managed to reattach it and finished baking the
cookie batches.
I went to take Milagros to work but
she was already there at Bewilder and had forgotten to tell me. I had to go in
anyway, because I told Kyle I would do another batch of 10 pounds of Chicken
schnitzels. I brought the Chicas a dozen of the Chocolate Chips cookies that
had pecans in them. I made the ones for Damian without because didn’t know if
he had a nut allergy.
Nonetheless, I made the Schnitzels and
Kyle came in to deal with some payroll issues about the gals not having their
accounts loaded with their payroll. Kyle set up a new system so I don’t have to
go to America First again. Anyway, when I left
Kyle asked me to take Luisana home as she was throwing up at work, which
I did.
I didn’t have to go get the brats from
Harmons because Kyle said he would. I was happy about that. I gave the pups a
second walk and it was still cold out but things are starting to bud out. I was
not hungry myself when I was home and only fixed the pups their supper. Kyle
came home early and looked at the handle on the oven to make sure I attached it
correctly which he said was fine.
I guess this Tuesday I will be taking
him to the airport to fly to Chicago to attend the National Restaurant
Association convention and will be gone for a week.
I was super tired from sleeping with
Adrian last night and actually went to bed around 6:30 and slept until after
9:30. Waking up I decided to type some more from my June 1985 journal and was
awake when Adrian came home from Newrest but I just slept in my own bed with
the pups and let Adrian get some rest also since he didn’t give me any
indication he needed me to share his bed tonight.
9 March 2024 Saturday
Kyle
was sick with a cold or flu and stayed home all day and Milagros took Luisana’s
place as she was still sick. After taking Milagros to work I brought Yolanda’s
pay to Papi’s but she was wasn’t there just her husband so I gave him their pay.
Luis Jr. didn’t show up because he wasn’t getting paid as he was skipping
classes at West High. I had to go to the
Chef Store and buy Cranraisins because they were all out and I stayed and helped for a big before
leaving bringing Kyle some chicken noodle soup from the kitchen and a Dr.
Pepper from the Bismarck Express. I hadn’t seen or heard from Mike Romero is a
while so I called to ask if he was home so I could come over for a visit. He
was so I went at 3. He sounded good and he said he felt better because he was
taking this Mounjaro injection medicine for his diabetes which finally has gotten
under control. The injections are weekly and cost $1100 a month but his Medical
Insurance pays for almost all of it. Coco’s hind rear bump has really ballooned
making I hard for her to walk without assistance. Mike is just taking care of
her the best he can until it is her time to leave.
He said he had someone come and take
down the side tree that was dying and do some cleanup of other shrubs and that
he found a place in Bountiful to store is trailer that has been fixed of the
broken window. So, he’s not going to park it at the house any longer so that
concrete pad is for naught now. Oh well.
I shared about the Jr. High hooligans
I have had to be dealing with and that Adrian had come home. Also shared about
all of Kyle’s new enterprises and said I hoped for the best but at my age I
couldn’t get too worked up one way or another as I have no control over any of
that except to assistant where I can and
be useful in my old age.
I went grocery shopping for eggs and
a few things for Adrian’s breakfasts before going back to Bewilder at 6. I
wanted to help Milagros and Sarah because they were the only one’s working and
Saturdays can be really busy and it was. I mainly kept up with washing dishes
and pans and replacing items that needed refilling. Tutu had been working at
Bismarck Express and when they closed at 7 she came into the kitchen and I
guess she didn’t have a way home so I took her back to the Grove and then
returned to Bewilder. It was a steady
night with anywhere between 50 and 75 people at any given time in the place for
a Saturday night.
Luis Alberto showed up at 8 and was
helping some so my energy was fagging out and I left at 8:30 because I was
really tired. At the house I made up Adrian’s bed which hadn’t earlier and
folded some clothes for us and then went to bed because the Clocks would be
turned forward tomorrow and we would lose
an hour of sleep. I had a charley horse in my leg that was aggravating
but I managed to sleep until midnight when Adrian came home from work but I
managed to get back to sleep. I don’t
know who will be at work tomorrow.
An
acquaintance posted on Face book this which I thought was meaningful,
especially about letting old people keeping old things that hold memories for
them...but I am also learning to let go of things as Bill Poore's death a year
ago taught me that eventually none of it will matter but the memories we leave
behind. “Let them enjoy living among objects that have accompanied them a long
time, because they suffer when they feel that you tear pieces of this life
away.”
10March
2024 Sunday
10 March 2024 Sunday
It’s
daylight savings so it’s much later than it was at the same time yesterday so I
rushed through breakfast, walking the pups, making Adrian his breakfast and
going to the store to get some cherry tomatoes and red onions for the Bewilder
Kitchen. I went to pick up one of the gals at the Grove but no one showed so I
called Kyle and he said that Maria had gone in instead of Luisana or Milagros.
So, I hurried down there and helped
Maria set up the kitchen. Sarah came in late almost 10:30 and even then she mostly talks on the phone
and fixes herself something to eat while Maria does most of the work. I also breaded
40 pieces of schnitzel and Kyle called at one point for me to tell him what we
were out of so he could go to the Chef Store. I stayed until nearly 1 in the
afternoon which still felt like just noon and then came home.
I
rested some then loaded up the FIT with household goods that I thought Maria
might use in her new apartment as I am sure they have nothing and then decided
to go back to Bewilder to help out a 6.
Kyle came in later to take inventory as
he will be leaving Tuesday for Chicago for a week. He left at one point and
went and bought Maria a microwave, pots and pans, and other item for her
apartment.
On Sunday the kitchen closes at 8:30 and
with my help, they were able to get out before nine. I drove Maria down to
Murray where she lives at 171 west 4400
South apt 301 in Murray. I could tell
that my night driving isn’t what it used to be but we made it there fine and
her husband Jesus Hernandez was there with Masuj to help unload the FIT. The
apartment was very nice and is in the
same complex that Luis Alberto Negron lived in last year. I came back by 9:30
DST so it was close to 11 DST before I went to sleep only to waken by Adrian
coming home. Later after he had gone to bed I crawled in with him and we
cuddled for much of the night
11March 2024 Monday
Kyle
had me meet him at the Wells Fargo office just south of Costco on Third West at
nine to file the paper work to establish business accounts for his four
business, Vibe Faktory, Kitchen Operators, Papi’s Truck Wash, and Bismarck
Donuts. It was exhausting mainly answering questions and signing documents.
Kyle put me down as owner of all those businesses which I have no clue what
that all means but I guess I will if they fail or if I get sued.
I had to leave about 10 to go retrieve
Milagros as she didn’t have a way to work and Maria was there by herself but we
weren’t too late. The woman we were working with at Wells Fargo rescheduled us
for 2:30 and we were there until 5 o’clock when they closed. We got at least
all but Bismarck done.
I was fatigued by the paper work and
after walking and feeding the pups I stayed in for the rest of the day. When Adrian came in later that night I got
out of my bed and slept with him a few hours mostly massaging him and holding
him before going back to my own bed.
I am so sick of reporter interviewing
young people who say they think Biden hasn't done enough for them and not sure
who they will vote for. How is it possible they think they will be better off
under Trump? Whatever happened to “Ask not what your country can do for you but
ask what can you do for your country”. And everyone is upset about Gaza but do
Muslims think they would be better off under a President that banned them in
2017?
13 March 2024 Tuesday
It
rained all day. It was raining when I
went to walk the pups but took Maxx and TJ back to the house and grabbed an
umbrella and only walked Taco because he needed too poop and soon as he did we
returned. I have a whole back yard but
Taco is conditioned to poop on a walk. Nonetheless, I fixed Adrian his
breakfast and then left to go pick up Milagros
to bring into work.
There Kyle was meeting with Cody McKendrick
and the chef named Chandler he hired to work this weekend’s St. Patrick Day
shindig. I was surprised by how many
pots and pans and dishes were left last night and Kyle was furious because it
wasn’t all that busy for a Monday and he had Chandler and Cody there. Milagros
and Maria felt chagrined and I was surprised because they had never left the
place before in this state. So, I pitched in and did all the pots and pans
while they scrubbed and restocked. Kyle
soon mellowed as everyone is entitled to a bad day.
When I left Hector at the Bismarck Express
shack, he said that he needed gas for the Terrain and I went to Maverick across
the street to fill the tank. Gasoline prices have jumped in just the past two
days from $3.09 to $3.35 with no explanation. I went to use the Novo card and
it was declined as insufficient funds so I had to use my own debit card and
that was $40.
When I went to go with Kyle to the Wells
Fargo by Lucky’s at 2:30, he just said that Maverick sometimes will do that if
there is less than $150 in the account which concerned me because tomorrow I
have 30 pounds of Chicken to get and Thursday all those bratwursts from
Harmons. Oh well.
At Wells Fargo we finished the paper
work for the Bismarck business and put Kyle as a signature on all the accounts
so if I drop dead he would still be able to access them. We were finished in
time for us to go to the Airport for his flight to Chicago. He said he is thinking about providing a
service to Turo drivers who want to use the truck car wash to keep their
vehicles cleaned for use.
Anyway, after dropping him off, I
came back home. Adrian was back from the gym and I told him I made some Ravioli
for him when he gets hungry. It rained
and rained all day which surprised me because I didn’t expect this much rain. I
was worried about Tutu Negron having to walk from West High to Bismarck Express
in the rain but nothing I could do about it because I was with Kyle during the
time she starts her shift.
Anyhow, I worked some on my 1985
journal before laying down and Adrian shut my door because he was having
company over. After he left, Adrian was so happy saying the 29 year old was
very handsome and he said he doesn’t want a relationship right now but it would
be nice to have him as a friend. So happy that Adrian is moving on with his life
as Kyle has his.
Although I’ve notice for a while that
Kyle goes by “Warren Villalobos” which I think is interesting.
13 March 2024 Wednesday
Such
a long and busy day. I slept with Adrian for most of the night holding on to
him as he slept before getting up to start my day. Adrian just wanted a small
breakfast and I had my usual of a mocha coffee and a waffle and took the pups for
a walk before going to retrieve Luisana Negron who seemed to be feeling a lot
better. Milagros joined us because she needed for me to take her to the county
complex on 21st South to find out the requirements for a marriage license.
It was relatively simple and her marriage date for a license and ceremony was
for 9 in the morning on March 27th.
Milagros, Luisana, and Maria worked all
day while the chef Chandler prepared dishes for the upcoming St. Patrick Day
weekend when we will have a special menu as well as the regular menu. I also
had to go pick up 30 pounds of chicken breasts, as well as go to Restaurant
Depot to pick up some green checkered tray paper for the weekend.
I started breading the chicken as we
were down to only about four but I was interrupted having to run to Smiths to
get some onions for Chandler and I also went to pick up Tutu so she wouldn’t
have to walk down from West High as it was inclement weather having rained and
sleeted today.
I finally came home around 4:30 to fix
the pups their supper and walk them again. After feeding them I loaded up the
wicker rocking chair that was on the veranda into the FIT because I wanted to
give it to Maria. She might as well have it as for just sitting unused on the deck. I also grounded up some roasted
beef I had cooked from the freezer for the pups dinner for the next several
days. Then I started in on Adrian’s room, stripped his bed and washed his
sheets and then did some of his laundry
before heading back to Bewilder at 8.
Chandler had asked that the corned beef
he was roasting be taken out at 8:30 and I wanted to be there in case the girls
got really busy which they were as it was Trivia Night. So, I stayed until 9:30
helping and gave Maria the rocking chair before going home.
It’s going to be a busy day tomorrow
mostly driving as I have to pick up the bratwursts from Harmons, go to the Chef
Store and buy tomatoes, cans of sauerkraut, some plastic food to go containers,
and hamburger patties from there. I also have to bring the towels back to Papis
so they can use them this Saturday.
I went to bed at 10:30, heard Adrian
come in, but just slept in my own bed to let both of us rest. I love holding
Adrian but I never actually fall into a deep sleep, just kind of a twilight
state.
14March 2024 Thursday
Another
long and busy day and I put 75 miles on the car just driving to different
locations. I slept by myself to give both Adrian and me a good rest although I
missed holding him. After taking care of the pups and fixing breakfast for Adrian and me although he eats
usually long after I leave the house. I
went to Lucky’s even before getting Luisana to buy 6 heads of red cabbages,
lemons, and some other food items for the kitchen.
At Bewilder I called Harmons to see if
the bratwurst was ready for me to pick up and damn if they didn’t have them
ready and said it might be even
tomorrow. I let Kyle know and he sent
them a strongly worded phone call as I had called for them last Monday and they
said I could have them Wednesday and I thought I was being nice saying I would
pick them up on Thursday.
Maria showed me the cutest pictures of Matsut
sitting in the wicker rocking chair with the biggest smile on his face. She
said he loves to sit and rock In it so I am so glad I gave it to her family
rather than it just sitting on the veranda. I think furniture is happier when
they are used for their intended purposes.
So instead of going to Harmons this
morning, I went to the Chef Store and bought 40 lbs. of hamburger patties, more
sauerkraut, some dish soap, two cases of tomatoes and other items totally over
$300. Maria asked if I would buy her some dish washing gloves that also covered
her forearms and not her hands so I stopped at Wal-Mart to shop for some. It
was around noon when I finally returned to the kitchen and Luisana informed me
that they were all out of Original, Jalapeno, and Italian sausages so I had to
go to the downtown Harmons to pick up a few for this afternoon. Kyle said after
talking to Emigration that the big order would be down by 6 o’clock.
Milagros said she was ready to come
in early so I went to pick her up but there was a mix up and she wasn’t ready
until 2:30.I took Maria with me to pick up the large order from Nicholas
Foods way out by 56t West by the
airport. After delivering the food I went home to take care of the pups and
rest before heading out to go Emigration Harmons to retrieve our order finally. I was back by 7 and Tutu was at the
kitchen and needed a ride home so I took her, came home, and stayed after a
long day.
15 March 2024 Friday
Another
really busy day but not nearly all the running around I did yesterday but
almost. I slept with Adrian for much of the night until I went back to my bed
to get some real sleep. After taking care of morning business, breakfast, and
walking the pups, I went and picked up Luisana for work.
Chandler was already there getting items
ready for the big day tomorrow. I did up nearly 80 chicken schnitzels this
morning and fried them up afterwards went to the Chef Store to get some house
salad and eggs mainly as I used up the last flat on the Schnitzels. Milagros
didn’t need to be picked up until 2:30 but I had to be out at Nicholas Foods to
retrieve another order of fries and breads just so we don’t run out this
weekend.
So, it was nearly 5 before I could
come home to walk the pups, make Adrian’s bed up, and feed the critters. I was
able to rest some before going out again to get some items that Luisana and
Maria wanted. Maria needed lotion for her hands that were getting really
chapped from washing dishes. I had to go to three stores to try and find what
Luisana wanted and never did locate Dermasil for Maria so I bought her some
good lotion and at home I ordered some from Amazon for her. I finally was home and
in bed by 9 for a very busy day tomorrow. I slept in my own bed.
16 March 2024 Saturday
I
am so road weary...I drove 200 miles in city traffic in the past 3 days and
people have lost any sense courtesy, will drive you off the road rather than
let you merge, speed up and ignore any signaling, and generally self-absorbed.
Maria was a little late coming in so
I took Luisana with me to pick up the emerald, green balloons from Zurcher’s
that Kyle wanted placed on the perimeter of the Bewilder Parking lot. I am so
glad I took her because the wind was so strong we barely managed to get the
helium filled balloons into the back of the Honda FIT. Then to top it off on
4th west right as I needed to turn into Bewilders parking lot a Bronco was
stopped in the middle of the street holding up traffic The street was crazy busy as people were
coming off the freeway onto 4th West trying to get to the St Patrick
Day parade up at the Gateway. I was telling the woman in the vehicle to move
forward as I needed to get into the parking lot as I had a car load of Green
balloons that needed to be put up by 11. This
stupid woman said that she could move because her stupid daughter had left
with her two kids with the keys in her
purse! So, the woman left the car blocking traffic causing a major congestion
to go look for her daughter. They must have been the only two idiots without
cell phones. I swear people are getting dumber and or not caring about others.
I was finally able to creep around the
vehicle and pull into the parking lot about 11 when Bewilder was opening for
business. Marie came out to help and
even though the wind was whipping the balloons around we managed to tie them
all up.
Inside Milagros said we had no corned
beef deli meat and ketchup so I headed to the Chef Store and bought the last 2
cases of deli sliced corned beef, a case of ketchup and a case of eggs because
I used the last yesterday making schnitzel. When I went to use the Novo card it
was declined so I put $260 onto my credit card because what else could I do?
So, I brought the supplies back to the
kitchen where Luisana said we were really low on original brats so off to
downtown Harmons I went and that place only had 8 brats. Sometimes that store
is worthless. I brought back what I bought then rather driving to Emigration
and taking a chance there, I drove down to 54th South and Redwood in
Taylorsville where it was a much bigger Harmons and I was able to get another
24.
After back at the Kitchen, we were fully
staffed with Milagros, Luisana, Maria, and Sarah, with Chandler preparing the specialty
dishes. I stayed to do dishes but left around 2:30 to go back to the house to rest
and take care of the pups.
I had to go back to Zucher’s for the
second bath of 30 helium balloons that Kyle wanted for Sunday and I had to get
them today because the store is closed on Sunday. I first went to Bewilder and
asked the girls if they wanted drinks from Bismarck Express before they close
which they did. From there I took Tutu with me to retrieve the balloons and I could
not have done it without help as the winds picked up again and we had the devil
of the time getting them to stay in the back of the FIT. Actually, Tutu rode in
the back with them and I think she thought of it as an adventure and was
laughing the whole time especially when a few popped. I took her home first
then headed back to Bewilder where the girls were slammed with orders so I took
over dish washing so Sarah could help the girls on the lie although I am not
sure how much help she was.
The girls had Latin music going full
blast in the kitchen which I think helped energize them with the madness of
cranking out order after order. Finally, after 8:30 it slowed down a bit and
even though I was willing to stay until closing, they wanted me to go home and
rest up for tomorrow. I was in bed by
10.
17 March 2024 Sunday
Sometime
after Adrian had come home and fell asleep I woke up so I took TJ and climbed
into bed with Adrian to hold him and fall back to sleep. I stayed in bed with
him until 5:30 then went back to my own bed.
This morning, I went and retrieved
Luisana and was surprised that Milagros wasn’t with her but didn’t think much
about it. At Bewilder Luisana and I put up the balloons around the parking lot that
Tutu Negron retrieved yesterday. All the ones we had out yesterday were popped.
Anyway, some crazy guy was yelling “fuck you” at everyone and being belligerent
at the homeless shelter to the south of us so we were kind of weirded out and
only put a few at the entrance and none along the fence line where the lunatic
was. Soon about 5 cop cars arrived
pronto to deal with the madness.
Sarah was in this morning and I was
getting worried that Maria wasn’t coming in also as I knew Kyle said Sunday was
going to as busy or busier than last night. Chandler was already in prepping
for the specialty dishes and needed for me to go get 3 pounds of mushrooms and
2 pounds of butter. Everything I spent
today had to go on my credit card.
Back at Bewilder Luisana said she was
hungry and asked if I’d go to McDonalds to buy Sarah and her a Big Mac Meal. So,
I rushed to the McDonald’s on 2nd West and 5th South only
to be surprised that they had kiosks instead of people taking orders. It was so
damn frustrating because I had no idea how to order off of them so frustrated I
said isn’t there anyone who can help. The one cashier took my order of 2 big
Mac Meals and an order of Chicken McNuggets which total to $30!I will never go
to McDonalds again. How can they expect old people to figure out how the Kiosks
work? With the millions they rake in they could afford at least to pay people
to help. It was so frustrating.
Then I called Kyle and said that it’s
only Luisana, Sarah and me working and he said that both Maria and Milagros was
supposed to be there also. He said he told them, but I said I don’t care, just
please contact them. I thought Kyle should have followed through making it
clear the women were supposed to work last night! I told him I was so stressed
out and nearly wanted to bawl. Kyle had put way too much responsibility on me
for this week.
So, he managed to contact both Maria and
Milagros and I had to drive down to Murray and try to remember where she lives
but managed to take her and her son back up to Milagros’ place where Tutu was
going to babysit Masuj. Consequently, it was after 12:30 before I returned with
reinforcements and the parking lot was already filling up with cars and Luisana
was cranking out orders the best she could.
I immediately relieved Sarah and started
doing the dishes and pots and pans to free her up to help on the line as we
began to get hammered. Cody McKendrick hired some bag pipe musicians to come
and play around 2 which made the girls wince as bagpipes just sounded like
screeching to the Latinas. The Latina workers were not appreciative at all. lol
They would cringe wince every time a tune was played. They were suffering.
At one point Chandler asked me to go buy
10 pounds of chuck roast hence off to the Chef Store and $80 later I came back
with the meat. The lunch crowd had lightened up some so I told the girls I was
going home to feed the pups but I would be back later to help with dinner. I
was actually very fatigued from stress and the work.
Almost soon as I walked in the house
after working 5 hours, Luisana called with an urgent message that the kitchen
was out of Romaine Lettuce for Caesar salad. Subsequently, I left right way
went to Lucky’s and bought 6 heads of lettuce and brought them back into town.
I returned to the house and even as weary
as I was, I walked the pups and fed them when Kyle called. He said Milagros
called and said they were out of Mayonnaise, parsley and dill. I never even got
to sit down before I went back to Luckys, bought 8 jars of Mayonnaise, 2
bunches of parsley but I knew they wouldn’t have any fresh dill. Kyle also
wanted me to pick up two Caesar Pizzas and some cokes as well.
Therefore, off I went back to Bewilder,
where it was packed for a Sunday night. I went back to doing dishes while the
girls managed the line, and Chandler kept prepping the specialty dishes. The
bag pipes returned but they didn’t stay as long for sure. I loved them but to
the kitchen crew it was just fingernails on a chalk board.
We had so many dinner plates, utensils,
and trays to do beyond simply pots and pan that it took both Sarah and me to
keep up.
I know the girls were beyond exhaustion
and when Chandler at 8 suggested that since most people out front were simply
drinking beer and not ordering any food that we could check to see if we could
close earlier than 10. I jumped on that immediately, went to the main wait
staff person I liked and said we were closing the kitchen at 8:30 and she was
absolutely fine with that as I know they all were exhausted also and not having
to deal with the kitchen would help them also.
So, I told the kitchen crew that we were
closing at 8:30 and they were almost joyful not to have to work any longer on
the line. I made the decision and if Kyle has any complaints which I don’t
think he will, I will just say, I own the business and made the decision. Because
technically I do. I also told Milagros and Maria not to come in to work
tomorrow until 10:30 to let them rest some as they will have to work tomorrow’s
shift.
So, we cleaned up the best we could and were
done by 9. I gave Maria two folding chairs, a small vacuum sweeper I bought
last year for Bill Poore, a small quilt for Masuj, and the Dermasil that came
today from Amazon. Milagros said Jesus Hernandez had already picked up the boy
but she and Luisana rode with me and Maria down to Murray to take Maria home.
On the way home the low gas light came
on as I had put another 80 miles on my car again today being a gopher, in order to chauffeur people and keep the kitchen
going.
I know everyone is beyond exhausted
working these two St Patrick days but I
am 50 to 40 years older than all the rest . I guess it’s better to drop on your
feet than lay in a hospital like Bill Poore. I guess I won’t get to be one of
those old people who get to sit in a rocking chair. My own fault I suppose as I gave my rocking chair
away Ha!
I love the chicas I labor with.
Therefore, I enjoy being with them but
today I am exhausted. However, St. Patrick’s Day is like Christmas for a
brewery and it only comes once a year. I was home in my own bed by 10 and heard
Adrian come in around midnight from his shift.
18 March 2024 Monday
I
slept in my own bed until waking up around 6 when I then got up and climbed
into bed with Adrian and clung to him as we slept some more. The next door
neighbors had early workers reroofing their house which kind of woke me so I
just gave Adrian a massage, kissed his forehead and left.
Although I can tell Adrian, being young
gets aroused some being held, but I never initiate anything sexual as I love
him and grateful just to hold him and be held by him. Besides I know he can get
sexual satisfaction from anyone but I think he needs physical affection which he
never got from his father who left his mother when he was 8 years old. I am his
Abuelo and I don’t need him to penetrate me as he has penetrated my heart deeply.
I went and picked Milagros up at
10:30 and brought her into work and Maria was there already. I had to go get
two 50 pound bags of onions, some at the Romaine Lettuce Restaurant Depot
because Kyle said he had money on the Novo card again…which was approved but
later when I went and picked up the Chicken Breasts it did not go through so I had
to put in the card. But later when I went and bought some brats it did go
through so I have no idea what was going on.
It was a very quiet day at the
kitchen so I stayed and helped clean and do dishes until 4 before coming home.
I didn’t get to rest, as after walking the pups and getting a bite to eat
myself, Adrian came home from the gym needing to have a serious talk with me
about things he heard about Kyle’s finances.
We used the translation app which
doesn’t always make things clear especially changing pronouns from Spanish to
English so I am not sure exactly what Adrian was telling me. Evidently the
businesses he was advising down in South Jordan was going after him for
thousands of dollars Adrian had heard. Milagros is worried that Kyle has
stretched himself to thin and not taking care of his businesses the way, he should
and thinks he will go bankrupt. It made me really upset because I hope Kyle
hasn’t fallen back on his old ways of defrauding. Milagros at work said that
none of the workers or her husband were paid last Friday.
Adrian sat and held me and also said
that he went to the University of Utah medical clinic where he was tested for gonorrhea
which he had to have gotten from Kyle but he was treated for it and his results
now are negative.
I know there’s nothing I can do
anymore as I am basically tapped out short of filing bankruptcy myself to try
and save the house if it comes to that. I just wished I could have complete
confidence in Kyle and I wonder if I am just deluding myself as I love him so
much. But I am mainly concerned that all his workers get paid as they work so
hard. Sometimes I think it would be easier to leave this world behind for
others to deal with. I have had a good run and there’s not much more I can
accomplish.
19 March 2024 Tuesday
Adrian’s
dreaded preliminary hearing was this morning over the internet like zoom but I think called Web x. He had to
appear on line at 8 but it was nearly 10 before his case was
heard.. I sat in the bedroom with him until around 9:30 when Kyle called to say
he was ready to be picked up at the airport. He had been viewing the
proceedings on the phone and with the prosecutor office he said he wouldn’t
testify against Adrian.
On the way back to the house I was
rather distant from Kyle saying I was just simply tired when I was still
processing the information Adrian laid on me yesterday
After dropping Kyle off I went to
pick Milagros up but looking my messages, Luisana said that Milagros was at the
clinic across from Bewilder and didn’t need a ride after all so I went back to
the house just in time to hear the rest of the proceeding involving Adrian. He
pled not guilty and his trial date was scheduled for May 8th at 9
which he will have to appear before the judge.
After that ordeal was over I went
into the kitchen to fix Adrian some breakfast and Kyle came up to me and gave
me a long embrace which damn if it didn’t melt this old heart again. Kyle is a
rogue and always will be but I will always love him also, perhaps to my own
detriment.
I went into Bewilder at 11 and worked
on making 10 lbs. of chicken Schnitzels. I had told Kyle earlier that I didn’t
want to go pick up the brats at Emigration and he said he was planning on doing
it anyway. Chandler came in to Bewilder
for Kyle and him to re-plan a new menu for the kitchen. I left to go home, I
thought to rest, as I had slept with Adrian last night and both TJ and Taco
wanted to sleep with us.
I first stopped at Sutherlands to
buy some Double A batteries for the house as all my analog wall clocks were not
working and I also went to Lucky’s to buy a bag of sunflower bird seeds which I
had planned to scatter along the south side of my back yard to act as a sunflower
hedge when they grow. Some grass and mostly weeds have rooted in that dirt we
laid down two years ago and the backyard looks green now and not like a moonscape.
Since it was 2:30 and the kids were
getting out, I stayed in the yard to keep an eye on them to keep some of the
miscreants from mischief.
I had called Michael Romero earlier
to see if he had any type of mattress or futon he didn’t want so I could give
to Maria. He did but Adrian, who was going to help me, was gone most of the
time, picking up his W-2 forms from Newrest and going to the gym. He is so proud
of how he is gaining weight and looking so fit.
I never got any rest as I had walked the pups and fixed their
supper. Because it was so nice out nearly 65 degrees I decided to clean up some
of the front yard. The vernal equinox officially begins at 9:15 tonight but I
couldn't wait and spent an hour grubbing and raking the front yard. My yard is
starting to bloom again with the forsythia bush all in its buttery glory.
It was a busy night in the hood. In the
hours I was outside I saw 2 patrol men walking the sidewalks, 5 cop cars at
various times driving down the street and on Fernleaf and 1700 north a
"community patrol car" had stopped in the middle of the road with
flashing lights. There must be something more serious going on than my garage dick
picture graffiti from a few weeks ago. Ha!
Kyle came home around 7:30 when I
finally was laying down in bed and at first he just mentioned all the changes
to the kitchen’s menu and how the food items will no longer be kept in hot
containers but cooked as needed, so the gals will have to be taught the new
system.
Then he got serious and said that he was
uncomfortable with me sleeping with his ex-husband Adrian and wanted me not to
do so or he might even move out. I was kind of stunned but said It would break
my heart if you felt like you had to move but I am not going to stop sleeping
with Adrian.
I said Adrian is like me and needs affection,
which I give him by cuddling with him for part of the night. I said that Kyle
didn’t need the physical affection like
we do and Kyle is not capable of giving it anyway which is one of the reasons
none of his relationships work out. I
said that I loved Kyle and if he didn’t know it by now he never would and that
he brought Adrian into my life and he’s in my heart now and as long as Adrian
wants me to hold him as he falls asleep I will.
I said I have rarely if ever said no
to Kyle and if he did decide he couldn’t live here anymore under these terms
than it would be like a divorce and I would want my name taken off all his businesses. I said I have no friends any more,
no one of my age that I can be with and Adrian and his family is as close as I
am going to get to having a family in my old age. I even said perhaps I should
have died after Bill Poore had, to leave this all behind.
It wasn’t long until Kyle realized
that Adrian meant more to me than his being uncomfortable with me sleeping with
his “ex-husband” who he said was entirely inappropriate. I said you divorced
him not me and all I want to do is to hold him and be held something Kyle is
incapable of doing. I said I would be sleeping with Kyle if he let me but I
know he would hate that.
He eventually mellowed saying he was
expressing his feelings and that he would come to terms with me sleeping with
Adrian. He made it seem like I was doing something wrong for wanting some
affection and to give affection in my old age.
Later when Adrian came home, his new
bed frame had arrived and Kyle actually helped remove the old poster bed frame
and put together his new “disco” bed frame. I call it disco because the
headboard has different colored lights that can be turned on.
I am going to give Maria Hernandez
the bed frame and the box mattress but need to borrow Mike’s pickup truck this
Saturday.
Subsequently, it was kind of a bizarre last day of Winter.
20March 2024 Wednesday
I
slept with Adrian in his new bed whether Kyle approves or not. I went and
picked up Luisana to take her to Bewilder but didn’t stay as Maria was there as
well Kyle and Chandler. Thos two were working on the new menu.
I came home and it was such a pretty
day that II decided I better do some yard work as that from all the rain we had
the backyard was getting overgrown. I mowed the front and back this first full
day of Spring. It only takes about 10 minutes to mow the front yard however it’s
about an hour to do the back yard.
Adrian was gone for most of the time
I was home and Luisana sent me a message that her mom was sick and wouldn’t be
coming to work. Kyle called and asked me to bring a hose down to Bewilder,
which I did. I told Luisana and Maria that I would come back at 6 to work with
them as that Wednesday can be very busy as it’s Trivia Game Night.
It was about 2:30 when I was back at
the house and a crowd of Junior High kids were gathering again and a bunch of
girls were sitting along my rock fence watching some boys that looked like they
were trying to get into mischief. I stayed outside and worked in the flower
beds and when I saw that the girls had no intention of moving and going on home
I went up to them and said, “You know this is my property line and the sidewalk
starts over there. There were reticent to move but finally did and went and sat
on the curb to watch the boys.
I stayed out until after 3 cutting some
branches off the blue spruce tree just to monitor the group of middle school
kids that hang out along Fernleaf rather than walking home. I was so tired from yard work that I took a
nap and barely work up in time to feed the pups.
After feeding the pups I went back
to Bewilder and worked mainly as the dish washer to free up Maria and Luisana
to put out orders. Kyle had mellowed again and I think appreciative that I
would come in to work but for me more to help the gals than him, although I
wouldn’t do it at all if I didn’t love him.
It turned out to be a fairly busy night consequently
I am glad I kept up with all the dishes otherwise Maria would have felt
obligated to do them herself. At one
point while at work, Maria confided in me that she was sad because she has
feelings for this one person that she
thinks she should not have. She just need to vent to someone, and like with Adrian, I am the grandpa. I guess that is my role in
my old age.
Kyle wanted me to go home at 9
saying the rush was over and I would gladly have stayed until closing at 10 but
I think Kyle thought I was more tired than I was. Although I was very tired.
21 March 2024 Thursday
Adrian
came in after midnight and was fussing around so I got up and climbed into his
bed to wait for him. He had the light off and when he got into bed and felt me
he shrieked because for some reason he didn’t know it was me. I had to calm him
down and then we laughed and I just held him in my arms so he could fall
asleep. Kyle told me yesterday that Adrian’s sister Joanna and her husband
Jesus Pereira have been released from Emigration in El Paso so it is just a
matter of days before they can make it to Salt Lake City. They will sleep in
Adrian’s room on the full size bottom half of the bunk bed still there so the
days of me sleeping with Adrian will come to an end then.
It was crazy trying to get Luisana to
work this morning. I could see that Redwood road was exceptionally crowded with
trucks but didn’t know the extent of the traffic until I got on to I-15 at 10th
North and it was bumper to bumper all the way and stalled to a slow creep. Fortunately,
I was in the 6th North exit lane so after slowly creeping along I
was able to get off there and backtracked a bit to go down 8th West
to 3rd South. Traffic was still back up on 4th West and 3rd
West especially at the lights so I headed over to West Temple and drove into
the city a little faster down to 4th South to finally reach Bewilder
about 20 minutes late. It took almost 25 minutes to go the 3 miles into the
city. Evidently a wrong way driver hit a
bus carried military personal which killed him but no one on the bus. I know it
sounds callous but I am glad he was killed. One less idiot on the road.
At work I started to clean up and helped
chop up onions that Maria started but almost right at 11 the gals became busy
with orders. Kyle hadn’t informed me that there was a private party at noon for
fans of the Dayton Flyers as part of March Madness Basketball events. He had me
stay and serve Beer Cheese over Pretzel bites like I have done in the past for
special events. Chandler was in making
party trays and Maria and Luisana put out orders during the event that last
about an hour and a half. I was standing on my feet the whole time being Mr.
congeniality. The pretzel bites and beer cheese is always a hit so my job was
to stand there and ladle out the beer cheese.
Outside in the parking lot the
Dayton Flyers Marching band performed
and their mascot came inside to entertain the fans. There was a sea of
red tee shirts and Hats nut not U of u fans and thank god no MAGA hats.
Milagros called in sick again so I
told Kyle and the gals that I would be back at 6 to help with keeping up the
dishes. However, first Kyle wanted me to go out to Nicholas in my car just in
case all that he ordered did not fit in the back of his Volvo but it did so I
was finally able to come home around 3:30 but didn’t get much rest as I had to
put the trash cans out and feed the
pups.
I also spent some time on the phone
trying to get Smith’s digital coupon app on my phone. I had to have customer
service help because it wouldn’t except the numbers on my Rewards Card but I
think it’s on now.
I wanted to watch the news to find
out more about the crash that created the horrible traffic jam this morning but
CBS preempted it for March Madness programming. I fed the pups and just
returned to Bewilder where it was already getting busy because Dayton won their
game and many of the fans were returning to Bewilder to celebrate. I jumped
right into doing dishes to free the
Chicas up who I knew were tired but energetic enough to have silly fun at
times.
Kyle was there the whole time
getting the new menu out and some of it was produced tonight like the “smashed”
burgers that used fresh meat instead of frozen patties. It became super busy
again but I managed to stay on top of the pots and pans as well as the dishes
and trays although I was getting weary towards the end because of no nap and
having slept with Adrian.
At it had slowed down by 8:30 and I
had most if not all the dishes down I told the gals I was going home. I was
sleepy and tired. They hugged and kiss me and sent me on my way.
As I was driving on the freeway, a
tow truck cut me off making me miss the exit to head north on I 215. People are
such bastard drivers anymore and are too stupid to anticipate what lane they
need to be in. I was angry, tired, and my night vision isn’t all that good.
Besides, I had to go to Bangerter then head down to California, then back up to
I 80 to finally head north on I 215.
When I came home, I just made Adrian’s
bed up for him and went to sleep in my own bed with the pups.
22 March 2024 Friday
It
was a beautiful warm Spring day in the mid 60’s. I fixed me some breakfast,
gave the pups their morning treats, walked them, and made breakfast for Adrian.
Mike Romero called right before I left to go get Luisana and said we could use
his truck to move the bed down to Maria’s apartment in Murray.
I went in and besides Luisana and
me, Kyle and Chandler were in. I helped Maria a bit, who was changing out the
fryer’s oils before starting in on doing up 20 pounds of chicken schnitzels as the kitchen sold out
all of the one I had made. Kyle said that the kitchen made as much on Thursday
as a regular Saturday. I asked for $500 because my checking account was low and
actually it was for being paid back the $700 I took out to pay Maria a few
weeks ago rather than for any of the work I did while he was gone, and for
working to help out while Milagros was sick.
I stayed until around 1 then went to
Wells Fargo to withdraw $500 from the Kitchen Operators account before going to
retrieve Milagros, who while still recovering felt well enough to go into work.
After dropping Milagros off I saw my
low gas light come on and decided to go to the Rose Park Smiths to buy some
groceries and try to use the digital coupon app. Well, I wasted 40 minutes of my life at Smith’s. Gas
prices have spiked again up to $3.60 for no apparent reason. I knew I had some
fuel points at Smith's so I stopped to fill up.
I put in my reward card and my debit card but the gas pump wouldn't
accept my pin number for some reason. Subsequently I go up to the pay cash window
and the woman in the booth there said to prepay so I put $20
from my card and went back to the pump.
Once there I saw she never gave me my
fuel discount. So I go back to the window, stand in line, and the woman then said
that I needed to put back the fuel hose that
I had left in my tank and when I did, the pump shut off without giving me any
gas that I had paid for.
So, I go back up to the window to tell
the woman what happened and she said I had to go inside the store to customer
service because she couldn't do anything about it because she couldn't give me
a receipt.
Accordingly, I go back into the store,
wait in line and the woman there took a bunch of information and called out to the
booth to talk to the woman out there. However, the phone inside the gas station
booth wasn't working, so the store manager had to go with me back out to the
booth where the Asian woman, who I was dealing with originally, was gone and
another woman was in her place who didn't know any of my issues.
Consequently, I waited and waited for
the two of them to try and find my original receipt, which took even more time.
When they finally found it all they said was that the $20 would be returned to
my debit card but it might take 48 hours for it to show up.
Forty minutes wasted and I never got any
gas. I was so disgusted with Smith's that I went down to Common Cents. Lesson
learned. Even the 10 cent discount at Smiths would have saved me only about a
$1 which my time was worth way more.
Thus, another frustrating day. I
came home walked the pups, fed them, put
on my night shirt and called it a day.
Kyle earlier said Adrian’s sister was
released from immigration in El Paso today a few days after her husband was.
Kyle said he hoped they can get out of Texas soon with all the crap Texas is
pulling. He said they are being allowed to go to Denver, which is a much better
place to get them here to Salt Lake.
I went to Adrian’s room with TJ and slept in his bed and waited for Adrian to
come home from work. I know that as soon
as his sister and brother in law arrives, they will be staying in Adrian’s room
and the time spent cuddling with Adrian will end. About the same time, I heard
Kyle leave so he must have found someone to trick with.
I finally heard what all the commotion
was about last Tuesday with so many police cars patrolling. Some 30 year old
guy was stabbed at the Middle School that the kids go to, who I have been dealing with throwing rocks at
my house, drawing dick pictures, and hanging out in groups on my corner. The
news account didn’t give any details other than that.
23 March 2024Saturday
I
slept with Adrian for most of the night after
he came home near midnight as he likes to be wrapped in my arms like a little
boy although he’s about a half a foot of more taller than me LOL.
When
I was up I fixed breakfast. Walked the pups then I took Luisana to work and
while there I breaded and fried up some eggplants for a vegetarian schnitzel. I
didn’t stay long after that Because I had made plan to meet Maria and her husband
Jesus Hernandez to let them have the bed.
Adrian was out cleaning his car and I
told him he needs to register his car as the tags had expired last January. I
don’t think he realizes how to do it because I am sure Kyle did all that for
him before.
Mike Romero brought his truck over at
1:30 so we could use it and shortly after that Maria and Jesus Hernandez showed
up. Mike and I did our good deed for the day making two trips down to
Murray to help furnish Maria and Jesus' apartment with furniture we didn’t
need or use anymore. My solid wood poster bed frame I had for 27 years Adrian didn’t
want, so that and the box frame I gave to them as they had been sleeping on the
floor. Maria and Jesus came over about 1 and we loaded up the pickup truck. Then
we went over to Mike’s Townhouse where he had a top of the line futon mattress
he bought years ago which he just kept
in his closet. It turned out to be a full size mattress rather than a twins
they now had a complete bed. He also had
some
When Mike swivel chairs he wanted to
give them but we had to make a second trip. When Mike saw how little they had
he decided to give them the fold down couch bed we had bought at IKEA years ago
and another single mattress for the toddler Masut so with the swivel chairs he
no longer and an outdoor table I donated as well so they now had a place to sit
and eat.
I had given my old rocking to them a few
weeks ago when I saw they had nothing to sit on in their apartment.
Consequently, we two old men dragged the
mattress and couch down the townhouse corner stairs Mike was worried about me
but I said if I can lift 50 lb. bags of
onions I can certainly lift a couch and mattress into the truck. I was more
worried about him as he was out of breath and just doesn’t have much strength
left due to the diabetes.
So down to Murray we went again and there
Jesus helped me bring the couch and mattress inside. So now the family has a
good bed for the parents and a mattress for the toddler, a table to eat on, a
fold down couch, 3 swivel chairs, a
rocking chair and two folding chairs as well as kitchen ware. So glad we had the means to help them get
established.
We
were finished by 3:30 and it was a good thing became shortly afterwards it
began to rain quite heavily.
I gave Michael one of my cloth
padded folding chairs because he said he could use one and they are expensive
now nearly $100 apiece and you have to buy them in sets of four.
I stayed home after all that a bit
tired from all the exertion so I walked the pups and fed them before just lying
down.
Tomorrow Adrian’s sister and brother in
law will arrive and stay with me for a while. We were so glad when they were
released from emigration in El Paso and got the hell out of Texas before
anything bad could happen to them. As it is they had to leave their 3 children
in Columbia with Adrian’s mother while looking for work and a new life in the
U.S.I think I am a type of underground railroad for Adrian’s family and what
republicans hate the most chain immigration lol ....well if it’s
good enough for Melania Trump its good enough
for me.
24 March 2024 Sunday
I
slept with Adrian for most of the night before getting up and taking care of morning
business. Adrian actually was up early to clean his room in anticipation of his
sister and brother in law’s arrival today. It had snowed this morning, a wet
snow but had cleared in time for me to take the pups for a walk. I took Luisana into work but did not stay as I
wanted to come home and clean house some before the company came.
Kyle took Adrian to the airport to
greet the Pereira’s as they debarked. Their plane landed from Denver after 11
but Johanna and Jesus’ Pereira’s plane sat on the tarmac almost as long as it
took them to fly from Colorado. Before coming to the house, they all went to
Latino Sabor to get something to eat.
Finally, around 1:30 they came to
the house but we didn’t stay long because Adrian had to be at work at 2:30 so
Kyle drove him there and then Kyle took us to the Smith’s in Wood Cross to get
toiletries and then to Ross Dress For Less so they could get some clothes. They
came to Mexico on a tourist visa but
into the United States they had to leave most things behind. But Adrian is so
happy as that evidently Johanna is his favorite sister. Kyle pointed out that both Johanna and Jesus Pereira
had ankle monitors as I guess for immigration to keep track of them like they
were criminals. Shameful.
I felt worn out and it continued to rain
and snow for much of the evening and after taking Johanna and Jesus Pereira to
Milagros I went to bed to rest. Kyle came in sometime around 8 and I told him
that Milagros said something about taking Tutu, Luis, and her to West High
tomorrow but couldn’t understand what she meant and he needed to call and find
out.
He then said that he and Chandler have
decided that there would be a new way to do the chicken schnitzel which is
probably a good thing but might involve me if I am the one making them to be
down at Bewilder more than I want to be almost as a daily worker. He said also
said we would be making the beer cheese from now on rather than buying it. I
was too tired to get too excited about the changes but he was worried about keeping
food quality safe and I just thought that is why I suggested a manager down
there as he can’t expect the girls who have no food preparation experiences to manage
the place on their own. Oh well.
25March 2024 Monday
I
think I caught a cold as I have bit of a sore throat and a bit congested. I was
lucky I wasn't sick all winter but think I finally caught a cold. My nose is
dripping like a leaky faucet and I have the sneezes. I still hadn’t deposited
the $500 nor gone grocery shopping yet. I am feeling a bit overwhelmed like I
can hardly take care of me let alone everyone else. I made everyone a good
breakfast of fried potatoes, bacon, rice and an omelet using up the last of my
eggs before walking the pups.
Afterwards I took Milagros into work and then went
to America First to deposit $480 and then off to the Chef Store to buy some Mango
juice which is about $2 cheaper a bottle than Lucky’s. I finally went to Luckys
and bought $71 worth of groceries for the house then to the Rose Park Library
to pick up a book I had placed on order a while ago called You Dreamed of
Empire about the meeting of Hernan Cortes and Montezuma in 1519.
After that I stayed home and I slept almost all day with a heating pad,
worn out by some bug that is making my nose drip but at least not congested or
coughing and so far just a bit achy. Taco said to man up so I had to walk him
again this afternoon. There is no reasoning with him. I have a bit of a sore
throat but the doctor is helping, Dr. Pepper that is. Uh oh gotta go pee.
I read the Álvaro Enrigue’s book
that PBS had recommended but after 100 pages I had to give it up because he
interchanged the use of principle people’s names and titles that it became
really confusing and his writing was more imagery driven then plot driven.
Adrian had a busy day with Johanna and
Jesus Pereira and it rained and snowed for much of
the morning only clearing up in the late afternoon but still really chilly out.
26 March 2024 Tuesday
I
slept through the night pretty well although this morning I am feeling a bit
achy and dizzy. This too will pass. I have 4 pups cuddling with me which helps
a lot.
I stayed home all day and mostly in bed recovering
from my cold. Only time I ventured out was to walk the pups twice. Today was Adrian’s day
off but later he was called into work so he missed his dental appointment at
Roseman.
Kyle called and reminded me that
Milagros and Luis were getting married tomorrow as I had forgotten. I guess the
whole gang of Villalobos will be there at the county courthouse. Kyle and I
will be witnesses.
When Kyle came home this evening around
8 he said he had hired Johanna Pereira to work at Bewilder and now he gave
everyone there two days off a week. Milagros will have Sunday and Monday
instead of just Sunday. No one will come in at two anymore so I will only have
to take people to work once rather than twice.
At times I feel like my cold is breaking
up and at other times it feels like its deepening. Only thing I did out of bed for
was write up a bit about Sheldon C. Spears Utah’s first AIDS activist. I wrote
on Face book that 1969 and 2024 are as
far apart as 1969 and 1918. I really
feel ancient.
27 March 2024 Wednesday
Life
is full of cycles. A year ago, I heard that Bill Poore had died in the morning and
this morning I was a signature on a marriage certificate.. Before going to bed
Kyle said that the whole crew was coming to Milagros and Luis Negron’s wedding
so I was up early at 6 to take a shower and get dressed but that was a wasted
effort because neither Johanna, Jesus Pereira, or Adrian went as they were all
still asleep when Kyle and I left. I still had a stuffy head cold but not
horrible. Milagros wanted Kyle to be witnesses so we had to be there.
Luis Negron followed Kyle and me
down to the Court house and while it was cool outside at 9 in the morning it
was really a very lovely spring day. Only Luisana, of the kids, came to see her
parents get married. Milagros and
Luisana looked lovely and Luis looked nervous. He had even left the rings in
his car and had to go retrieve them before the wedding which took place by a
Spanish speaking older Latina officiator.
Kyle filmed almost all of it. Luisana
was crying and I held her. Actually, it was a very touching simple ceremony.
No time for a honeymoon though as
Luis went to work at the truck wash and the girls went straight to Bewilder
were they had brought clothes to change into. Kyle and I went home to share
photos with the Venezuela gang at home and where I changed clothes so I could
go to the truck wash to gather wet towels that needed to be washed.
At Bewilder, Maria Hernandez gave me
a rainbow cake slice to help me get well. It was almost too pretty to eat. I
said “almost”. I didn’t stay long at the kitchen but figured out the new
schedule from Kyle who is letting Sarah go. She was never a very good worker so
it’s hard to feel sorry for her. For the days she worked, she was on her phone
much of the time, never took the initiative to do anything, and hardly ever
assisted Luisana.
Sundays will be Luisana and Johanna,
Mondays Johanna and Maria, Tuesdays Milagros, Johanna and Maria, Wednesday,
Luisana, Milagros, and Maria, Thursdays Milagros, Luisana and Maria, Fridays Luisana,
Milagros, Johanna, and Maria and Saturday will be Milagros, Luisana, and
Johanna. All the chicas will come in now at 10:30 instead of 10 and I won’t
have to retrieve anyone at 2 in the afternoon anymore.
Back at the house it felt like a
macaroni and cheese day, homemade of course. Kyle took Adrian to work again and
said that Adrian is going to buy another car I think a Nissan and sell his KIA
to Jesus Pereira so they can have transportation.
I went to lay down to rest when the dogs
started barking like crazy and I heard all this yelling out on Daleridge. I
looked out and saw about 30 middle school kids, boys and girls, jumping all over Peter and Brittany’s truck
filled with fencing lumber, yelling, and
in my yard, hence I put on a coat and went outside and scrambled over to my
corner and told them to get off that truck that it doesn’t belong to them. I
became surrounded and a belligerent one said its okay he knew the people so I said
then what are their names and he gave me a bullshit reply of some Spanish names.
I said just go on home or I will call
the police which afterwards they were yelling fuck you at me and were menacing.
At that point I called 911 instead of the non-emergency number hoping for a
faster response but it was about a half hour later when 4 cop cars showed up at
the Miami park around the corner. All the kids had migrated down to the park
where the police were responding to a fight there and not my 911 call. Another woman was
there talking to the police, who had also called them. .
I walked over there and said I was the
one who called 911 and was sick and tired of our neighborhood being harassed. I
was informed that the police are investigating the troublemaking kids at Northwestern and are aware of the
problems. I said this isn’t recent and that I had reported this for weeks now
and am really getting tired of it. I said that at the last time, I was told that
a patrol car would be patrolling when school lets out when these kids funnel
down our streets but I have never seen one yet.
The police said that since no one
fighting in the park claimed to be a victim they had no one to arrest. They
only suggested that I do not engage with these wannabe gangsters because they
had stabbed a man a week ago who had tried to make them behave. I said it’s the
school teacher in me who wants them to behave themselves. So, I guess I will
just have to let these kids run amok until someone else gets hurt. The police
said these kids aren't even afraid of them.
After that adventure I was home for the rest of the evening and it felt
strange not being down at Bewilder but was not up to going out so mainly I went
to bed and watched a Netflix series on World War II.
I was in bed when everyone came home
and woke up when Adrian climbed in bed with me saying he missed me so I just held
him while he fell asleep.
The latest director of the Pride center Ryan
Newcomb, resigned for health reasons and the 13th South building has been sold.
The new location is top of the McIntyre Bldg. downtown. They sold the Solomon
Building.. what a mess.
A
gloomy overcast day and a steady rain came in the afternoon well into the
evening. I contacted our representatives from the Salt Lake School Board and our
city council member about issues we are having with students from Northwest
Middle School loitering. I then took Johanna with me to pick up the gals at the
Grove apartments. They had overslept and kept us waiting until nearly 10:30
which is their new hours. Kyle went off with Adrian to help him buy his new car
at CarMax about the same time we left the house. Jesus and Johanna Pereira are
going to buy the KIA from Adrian on payments as Adrian had paid off his car a while
back.
At Bewilder I was happy to see Maria
again and there I ordered 30 pounds of chicken and 40 pounds of ground beef
from the Main Street Meat market but I also had Kyle call to make sure I had
ordered the ground meat correctly because I still have a head cold and was not
sure if I did it right because Kyle has
a certain type order. Maria is learning
how to do the chicken schnitzel the new way so I doubt that I will be coming in
to do it as much if at all. I gathered
up the towels in the washing machine to take to the house to dry when Cody McKendrick
approached me and asked when was the last time Kyle had the grease traps
cleaned as that that it was connected to a sewer line in the basement that he
was worried would back up. I said I didn’t know and that Kyle would be in later
that day. Cody said something disconcerting to me that he said that Kyle was
not always forthright with him. I know that I paid a $1000 bill owed to Beck Sanitation
last January for grease traps at Loco Burger and Bewilder. Well, it’s another
thing I should not be worried about but I am. Kyle should not betray any of
Cody’s trust if we are to remain at Bewilder.
I went to finally get another
haircut but my regular Vietnamese barber Mr. Lee was on vacation in Vietnam so
I had another much younger Vietnamese man cut my hair and trim my beard. It’s
gone up to $25 now and I only left a $2tip, however, which is about all I can
afford right now. I still haven’t done my income taxes yet. I don’t know why I
am delaying it. Also, I have to start taking money from my retirement account
now.
It began to rain shortly after I
came home from the barbers so the pups didn’t get an afternoon walk but it also
was down pouring when school let out so the little hoodlums had to walk in the
drenching rain.
Before the rain started, however,
Adrian came home with his Nissan vehicle which he was so proud of. After he went off to work I was home alone for
much of the rest of the day with only Jesus Pereira coming in and out once in a
while. He is driving for Uber like Adrian did last summer.
Kyle called after I went to lay down
and said he contacted Victoria Petro our city councilwoman who agreed to meet
about the problem but I didn’t hear any more about it before going to bed. He
did say that Harmon’s emigration now said that the brats we ordered wouldn’t be
ready until Sunday which doesn’t do us much good for the weekend crowd.
A wall street journal article reported "Among the regions that have
seen the fastest increases: the Salt Lake City area, where gas stations raised
prices by about 65 cents to $3.77 a gallon over the past month."
29 March 2024 Friday
It
was a beautiful day compared to the gloomy rainy weather yesterday. I only took
Johanna to work as Milagros and Luisana said they would find their own way,
which means they will probably be late. So, it was just Maria and Johanna when
I left. I did talk to the Giggles the server, who I really like but thinks she
is going to quit because of the way she is treated by her manager which Cody
McKendrick won’t do anything about. Oh well. She said that Cody may have been upset
with Kyle because a few of his checks came back saying insufficient funds. Well,
I could stress over it or just what plays out play out.
Adrian finally was able to go back
to the gym before he went to work and Kyle said that the meeting with Pioneer
Division Captain Yvette Zayas and City Council Woman Victoria Petro would be at
my house so I went and talked to my neighbor Annie an asked if she wanted to
attend which she did and also I asked Carlos Bahena who also came.
Before that when talking to him he asked
for Kyle to look at camera footage to see if we captured whoever it was who
filled Carlos trash can completely full with trash bags after the trash pickup
this morning. It turned out to have been the little girl from across the street
from me so Carlos and I went over there and asked her to empty them all back
into their own trash cans. Shesh!
At 2:20 Victoria Petro and Captain Yvette
Zayas came to the house to meet with the neighbors to discuss the issues having
with kids from Northwest Middle School. I think it was productive and glad it
wasn't just me who had problems with the kids. They were very supportive and
said that now it had come to their attention that it will be on their “radar”
and they will see if they can get a camera posted on the corner of Fernleaf and
Daleridge which really would help. Well, I think I’ve done all that I can. Next week is Spring Break so there shouldn’t
be any school problems for a while.
Later in the afternoon Jesus Pereira said
that the KIA tires needed air so I showed him where the air hose was at Common
Cents and after that I was home for the rest of the day.
Kyle wanted to me to find out if Alan
Anderson wanted to celebrate his birthday with me again next month so I texted
him and he did. I then called Jim McMullin to see if he and TJ wanted to join
us. He said they would but right now they have a stuffy head cold like me. We
are going to go to the Red Maple Chinese Restaurant on 47th South in
Taylorville at 3:30 so Kyle Daniels can join us.
I forwarded the tickets Jim Dabakis sent
me for Pretty Woman to Kyle so he could use them for April 7th. He
was invited to a free Jazz basketball game tonight so I was alone all evening
and went to bed fairly early around 9.
While searching information in old
newspaper archives this evening I found information on this old character called
the Worm. When Fran and I worked at the La Paloma Mexican Restaurant where
Apollo Burger is now on Main and 400 South in 1978, the Worm would roam up and
down Main street in a red devil outfit, complete with cape, a pitchfork and
sporting a bald head with two tuffs of hair styled into devil horns. He would
often stop in front of La Paloma and draw on the sidewalk pentagrams. Salt Lake used to have its share of
characters back then including Charlie "Brown" Altman the flower
child hippie guru.
I
never knew the man’s real name except "worm" but a caption from
November 1985 showed that he was still up to his antics and his name was Peter Stipanovich.
A later article in December said that when brought into the courtroom he
stripped off his jail clothes flung them around, jumped up and said I am the
Worm the Devil!" hahaha! He was harmless, just eccentric back when Mormons
like Mark Hoffman were blowing up people and polygamists were killing each
other left and right over Blood Atonement. Remember when Rulon Allred's murder
started a blood bath between rival prophets? Good times in old Salt Lake.
30 March 2024 Saturday
When
I went to pick up Milagros and Luisana at their apartment, they informed me
that I didn’t have to take them anymore as their car was repaired and Luisana would
take herself and her mother to work from now on since they now work the same
hours. That kind of surprised me so I guess my taxi service is no longer
necessary. Adrian took Johanna into Bewilder so there was no need to leave the
house at all today. However, in the afternoon after Adrian left for work I did
go to the Rose Park library and checked out two mysteries. I wonder if I will
read them. I have been working on my 10 years of a Gay Activist from 1985 to
1994 when takes up a lot of my time.
Kyle didn’t come home until after 9
and when he came upstairs he shared that he had a good time at the Jazz game as
he had free tickets from Nicholas the food purveyor. He was excited to share
that he had his picture taken with Gail Miller the wife of the late Larry .
Miller.
So, it seems like my involvement
with keeping Kitchen Operations at Bewilder afloat is coming to an end. Life is
full of circles.
It
showered for much of the night so the grass was wet when I took the pups out
this morning. So, I doubt whether there were any Easter egg hunts outside today.
It cleared up and was pretty out but deceptively cold with a chilly wind.
It sure doesn’t seem like Easter Sunday
without having people come over for dinner. Kyle did want me to make some
deviled eggs and that was about as Eastery as I got this year. I did fix
Adrian, Johanna, and Jesus Pereira an Easter breakfast -of fried potatoes with diced
ham, sautéed apple slices, rice, an omelet and cheese and strawberries. I didn’t eat. Jesus took Johanna to Bewilder
where she will work with Luisana today.
In the afternoon Kyle wanted to go
to Bewilder to show Luisana how to take inventory and he asked me along so I
could get a drink at Bismarck Express which is closed on Sundays. So, I went
and spent some time there. It was really slow as I suppose most people were
having Easter dinner with families. Old cooks like me can't just let Easter
pass so I baked a pork loin with a yam and corn with a few deviled eggs left
over from this morning. all that was missing was a coconut and strawberry
dessert but oh well since it was just Kyle and me here to eat any of it.
He came home around 6:30 and after we
ate I retired to my room and I think it was raining again. So, this is how I
spent Easter 2024.
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