Before the internet: Excerpts from an old diary
November 30, 1972 - Found a book on the bus: Raymond Chandler - The Big Sleep. Bored. Started to read it.
December 1, 1972 On Chapter 7. A new Pacific is opening up for me.
January 20, 1973 I have read all of Mr Chandler's work.
January 22 There is a neighborhood I don't like. There are people in it like the two who stopped me last night:
"In the market for a mouse?"
"Pardon me," I said, trying to walk around them.
"A hard one to please huh? What flavor do you like? We got dark meat, red tops, bow legs, hump backs - "
"What do you do with these unusual mice?" I said to humor them.
"A foxy grandpa, huh?" one said.
Then they said other things I won't repeat.
February 11 It was sunny when I got out of school today and I thought it would be nice to imagine a big snake crawling along the street - so right away I saw one poking his nose into the upper storeys of house and lashing his tail around. Then he turned to look at me and his tail whipped out and cracked me in the leg.
When I took off my pants for bed I was surprised to find a bruise on my left leg about 3 inches from the knee cap.
June 2 I was sort of daydreaming this morning after I'd woken up - imagining it was 10 below zero and a lot of ice on the sidewalk. Though I had my jacket buttoned up around my ears I nearly froze and fell down three times.
A lot of boys followed me for blocks - watching me blow steam out on my breath.
July 6 I wonder why evil people get more power than good people. Wish I never had to go out until this is all over because they may decide to kill me too.
I won't talk about it if I can help it.
Received 6 advertising pieces in the mail this morning about varicose veins, trusses, relief from hemorrhoid distress and so forth - the biggest amount of mail I've ever had on a single day. But where did they hear of me and think that I'm in trouble of that kind?
My eyesight is worse but it would be terrible if I stumbled with them on so I won't risk glasses.
Dec 31 I resolve - Not to forget to put on my rubbers. Not to talk to people on the street becasue these people have nothing better to do than to get me all excited and happy. And stop carrying cigarettes to hand out since people might think I had begun their use, besides making them angry offering them Chesterfields when they want Camels.
Not to have more than one vision a day.
To pray every night for everybody in the world.
Jan 6 I have a secret.
I am writing a book.
April 5 I have finished The Taste of Blood!
April 27 I have the feeling that something is going to happen.