Through the Past Dorkily: Girl Gone Bad

Editor's note: Through the Past Dorkily is a recurring feature that looks back at the embarrassingly dorky diary I kept as a 16-year-old in 1984.

Sunday, September 2, 1984

Song of the day: Slide It In - Whitesnake

I got up at 2:30.  Didn't do much of anything today.

- The Barbarian

Monday, September 3, 1984

Song of the day: Pride (In the Name of Love) - U2

I got up. I went to work at 12. Worked all day. Came home at 10.

- The Barbarian

Tuesday, September 4, 1984

Song of the day: Mystery - Dio

Top 5 at Five
1. Pride (In the Name of Love) - U2
2. On the Dark Side - John Cafferty and Beaver Brown
3. New Girl Now - Honeymoon Suite
4. Midnight Maniac - Krokus
5. Tears - John Waite

Strange day. I got up at 11:30. All I did was bum around the house all day. I didn't go outside until 11 p.m. when I took the dog out.

Phone call of the day: [Cute girl I like] called me up. She asked me if I wanted to go to the second Summer Jam (Stompers, Beaver Brown) on Saturday with her. Unfortunately, I had to say no because I'm working Friday night crew. She also said she was going to see Rush on Oct. 2. She said she'd give me and [drummer dude] a ride to the show if we wanted. I said I'd talk to him.

She kept asking me if I was mad at her for not keeping in touch. She said she was real busy with relatives and stuff. I said no. She sounded pretty interested.  

Hmm. Double hmm.

- The Barbarian

Wednesday, September 5, 1984

Song of the day: All Along the Watchtower - Jimi Hendrix

Weird day. I got up at 8 and took Mom to work. [Buddy] and Jeremy came by and we rode around in [buddy's] car. When I got back, Sammy pissed on my bed! Right thru the covers! Damn dog!

I went to work at 3. I didn't get out till 11:10.

- The Barbarian

Thursday, September 6, 1984

Song of the day: Stand Up - Coney Hatch

First day of school. [Buddy] picked me up at 7. At school we stood around for a while in the freezin gair and then went in the gym, then to our homerooms. I'm in 27, the quiet study hall. I copied my schedule down wrong and went to the wrong classes 5th and 6th period, but I straightened it out.

[A buddy of mine] grew a mustache. [Girl I dated] bleached the front of her hair.

This year should be pretty good.

We played the Sanborn alumni and lost, 5-1.

I got my check and only got $58. [Store manager's] gonna run my check thru the computer tomorrow.

- The (back to school) Barbarian

Friday, September 7, 1984

Song of the day: Girl Gone Bad - Van Halen

School went pretty good today. In Field Biology, me and [another guy] decided to get sea horses for pets. I have some homework in Adv Math and Journalism. Journalism is cool. I became one of the readers who check stories for errors, etc. I have to write a story this weekend.

Hot new babe dept.: There's this girl who sits with us in 1st period free. I think her name is [redacted] (not spelled that way.  That's what I think people have called her). What a babe!

Another babe is in my Journalism class. I think her name is [redacted]. Nice bod.

We got a different jukebox. It sucks. It's even worse than last year's one. It's got disco songs, country songs and assorted garbage. Great. Some chick put on some queer disco song. I almost died.

After school, me and [a buddy] drove around for awhile. Practice was 3 hours long. I got home just past 6. At 9, I went to work. I found out that [some dude] quit. Too bad. Crew sucked! Too much work. As it turned out, I was up for 25 hours straight! Sheesh!

Postscript: Not sure why we started school so late this year. I forgot about getting that call from the girl I'd been pursuing all summer. I wasn't a fan of the Stompers or Beaver Brown, anyway.

Free periods were pretty fun. We hung out in the cafeteria, could buy candy and junk from the little store there, and could crank tunes on the jukebox. I remember, despite the "queer disco," playing a lot of U2 and Van Halen on that thing. Somebody figured out how to screw with the volume and really blast it, and then they turned it off for a while, I think.

Journalism class! At this point, I had no clue that journalism would be my chosen profession. It was just something that looked interesting and not too difficult. We didn't have a school paper, but our class had a page in the local newspaper that we contributed stories to, so that was cool.

Through the Past Dorkily: The Last in Line

Editor's note: Through the Past Dorkily is a recurring feature that looks back at the embarrassingly dorky diary I kept as a 16-year-old in 1984.

Tuesday, August 21, 1984

Song of the day: Wait Until Summer's Gone - Zebra

I got up at 10:30. I didn't do much today, just bummed around. Jeremy called around 1. He said that [cute chick] wanted to go to Canobie Lake sometime before summer ends. Hmm. He also said we'd go to the mall next Wednesday or Thursday.

I went to practice at 5. We did mostly running today. I ran the 40 in 6:40 and 6:18. I ran the mile in 6:23, my personal best. After that, we did even more running, and believe me, I'm gonna be one sore barbarian in the morning.

I gotta get in touch with [metal dude] about the concert.

- The Barbarian

Wednesday, August 22, 1984

Song of the day: I'm Insane - Ratt

I got up at 12 today. I mowed all the weeds from both sides of the house. We did more running at practice today. [Another hot female classmate] came by later on. What a babe.

I called [drummer dude] and he gave me [metal dude's] phone number. I called his house but he was at school.

I get the car tomorrow.

- The Barbarian

Thursday, August 23, 1984

Song of the day: I Can't Shake You - Santers

I got up at 7 and took Mom to work. [Guitar dude] called and asked me if I could give him a ride to work. I went over at 2 and we sat around til 2:45. Disappointment #1: My paycheck was only $73! 20 bucks in taxes. That blows! #2: I called [metal dude]. His mom said I'd have to get a ride to his house. At first, things looked grim. But then I remembered Dad gets home at 5, so I could take his car to [metal dude's] house. Now, I have to find out how to get there. His mom said he'd be home from 12-1:30 tomorrow. I hope I can work this out and see that concert!

- The Barbarian

Friday, August 24, 1984

DIO + TWISTED SISTER CONCERT

Song of the day: The Man on the Silver Mountain - Rainbow

Top 5 at Five
 1. The Last in Line - Dio
2. We're Not Gonna Take It - Twisted Sister
3. On the Dark Side - John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band
4. Missing You - John Waite
5. Talk to Me - Scandal

WOW! What an awesome concert! Dio rules! Twisted Sister rules! We had good seats on the right side of the stage. Dee Snider got in a fight with some bozo in the front row who threw something at him. They played a killer set.

Dio's set had an awesome laser show! Viv Campbell wailed! It was great! I got a Dio jersey and a tour program. I didn't find any good Sister shirts. The show finished at 10:30. I left the car at the Bucket. I got home at 11:45 after a good night of headbanging.

- The Barbarian

Saturday, August 25, 1984

Song of the day: Egypt (The Chains are On) - Dio

Hmm. I went to work at 12. [Supervisor] made up the schedules and gave me stupid hours. 7-1 Sunday and a bunch of 3-10s. I haveta get him to change them.

[Girl I like] came in today to check her hours while I was on lunch. Like I thought, she was on vacation last week. Wow, lotsa babes working. [Another one], what a fox! Yum!

I got the new issue of Guitar. Only thing is, it's the October issue with Ozzy on it. I haven't even gotten the September issue with Scorpions on it. Weird.

- The Barbarian

Sunday, August 26, 1984

Song of the day: Two Minutes to Midnight - Iron Maiden

I got up at 6. Only 4 1/2 hours of sleep! The only thing that made the day worthwhile was the fact that [girl I like] was working 8-1. She definitely likes me! We shared a carton of OJ during our break. What a babe!

I heard Maiden's new single off Powerslave, "Two Minutes to Midnight" and the flipside, "Rime of the Ancient Mariner." Actually, I heard about half of "Mariner" when Mom got a stupid sliver in her finger and as a result, I missed the rest. Mind-blowing metal nonetheless.

- The Barbarian

Monday, August 27, 1984

ALEX LIFESON'S BIRTHDAY

Song of the day: Flesh for Fantasy - Billy Idol

I took Mom to work early so I could get my schedule fixed at 9:30. I got Creative Writing second semester, second period. As I was leaving, [female classmate] drove by. When I got home I called [optometrist] and they just got the contacts in. I went in at 11:30 and got 'em. Now I can see! I have to go back at 2:30 tomorrow to see how they are.

I mowed the lawn at 1.

[Buddy] told me at practice that he quit his job at the Bucket yesterday.

We got a scrimmage in Epping tomorrow. I hope we kick butt!

- The Barbarian

Tuesday, August 28, 1984

Song of the day: Rock Hard, Ride Free - Judas Priest

I took Mom to work. I got 2 records today, April Wine - Nature of the Beast and Van Halen - Fair Warning. Actually, I had to get them at the post office. I met [two classmates] at the plaza.

JP went with [buddy] to some camp for a couple of days.

I went to [optometrist] again today. I learned how to take out and clean and replace my contacts.

We won our scrimmage with Epping, 6-1! They stunk! I only played for most of the 4th quarter.

[Buddy] gets his license tomorrow.

- The Barbarian

Wednesday, August 29, 1984

Song of the day: So This is Love? - Van Halen

Pretty boring day. I just sat around till 4:45, then I went to practice. Yahoo.

- The Barbarian

Thursday, August 30, 1984

Song of the day: Revelation (Mother Earth) - Ozzy

Top 5 at Five
1. On the Dark Side - John Cafferty and Beaver Brown
2. The Last in Line - Dio
3. Walking on a Thin Line - Huey Lewis and the News
4. New Girl Now - Honeymoon Suite
5. I'm on Fire - Bruce Springsteen

Took Mom to work. I paid off my Guitar subscription. Got my check, $52.50. Got my senior pictures. Went to practice. That's it.

- The Barbarian

Friday, August 31, 1984

Song of the day: You're In Trouble - Ratt

What a day. I woke up at 8:15, rode over to the plaza for my 8:45 eye appointment. I got home at 10, or something like that, and went to bed. I got up at 12 and [buddy] picked me up at 12:20. We goofed around for a while and got to the field house around 2:30. We left for Dover at 3:30. We won, 1-0. I didn't play too good because my allergies were killing me. The JVs played 2 quarters after our 3 and we left at 7. After eating at Burger King and all, we got back at 8:30. [Another buddy] gave me a ride home and I got there at 8:45. I ran in and out and made it to work before 9. [Girl I liked] was there. Hmm. I worked with [another dude] in aisles 1, 3 and 4. We all finished stocking at 3:30. The ovens were left unlocked so we had pizza. I got home at 7:15.

- The (crew slut) Barbarian

Saturday, September 1, 1984

Song of the day: Let It Go - Def Leppard

I got up at 3 p.m. I had taken out my contacts before I went to bed, so I put 'em back in.

I got to work early so I could talk to [girl I liked], but she wasn't there. My hours are: Mon 12-10 (time and a half!), Wed 3-10 and Fri NC. Not bad, eh?

I worked with [some dude]. He goofed off so much that it took us longer than it should have. We finished stocking at 2:30.

We took an hour and a half break. Me [and four guys] went up to the catwalk to sit down. [One guy] got a quart of Bud and they all started drinking. They got 2 more quarts (I had a little), and we successfully hid them.

We got out right at 7.

- The Barbarian

Postscript: Life with contacts was a whole new world. I usually just walked around without wearing my glasses, so everything was blurry. I only wore my glasses when I drove or occasionally in class. So this was a big deal. These contacts were soft lenses, but you had to take them out and put them in solution when you weren't wearing them. Required some discipline.

The Dio show was fun. Can't believe I bought a program. I wonder if I still have it somewhere in a box. 

Soccer scrimmages were underway. I didn't play much senior year. Part of it was the coach didn't really know me because I played the previous year on the JV and obviously I wasn't wowing anybody with my athletic ability. I was a pipsqueak and didn't have a lot of power on my shots, and I didn't have blinding speedy or anything like that. I like to think I brought more to table in terms of knowing where to go in front of the net, but unfortunately I sat on the bench most of the season. I started playing again after college and I think I was a better athlete then.

Night crews were fun. I would continue working them periodically for the next five years or so. Totally forgot about drinking beer that time. I remember once having a wine cooler or two. We usually didn't drink because if we got caught, we'd be super-screwed. Plus I didn't really drink much in high school.

This female co-worker and I were starting to get a little close. Actually, there were a couple of them, but once school started, I focused more on girls in my school. Probably a dumb move on my part, but then, I was all about the dumb moves when I was 16.


     
      

Through the Past Dorkily: Shapes of Things

Editor's note: Through the Past Dorkily is a recurring feature that looks back at the embarrassingly dorky diary I kept as a 16-year-old in 1984.

Thursday, August 9, 1984

Song of the day: Trampled Underfoot - Led Zeppelin

I can go! Yah! Dad said I could go to the Dio concert! Awesome! Now, I hope [metal dude] got the tickets. Excellent!

The weather was lousy. It was cloudy all day. We went right up to the beach and then turned around. Mom was pissed that we didn't even let [Aunt Redacted] walk around. Oh well...

I got my check ($81.90) today. I put $60 in the bank. Now I have $300 in the can. Good deal.

- The Barbarian

Friday, August 10, 1984

Song of the day: You Really Got Me (live) - Van Halen

I worked today. [Metal dude] gave me my ticket. Later he told me he didn't even ask his parents if they'd take him yet. Great.

After work, me and [guitar dude] went to Friendly's and then to his house where he gave me some of my magazines back. I got home at 12.

- The Barbarian

Saturday, August 11, 1984

Song of the day: Back Where I Started - Box of Frogs

Not bad. In fact, awesome! Rush is playing the Centrum on Oct. 2 and 3! Yaah! Tickets go on sale Wednesday. [Drummer dude] said we'll go down to Methuen Mall and get tickets. Yaah!

[Female co-worker]'s getting pretty friendly. She said [cute girl from school] is a good friend of hers. She lives in Atkinson. Hmm.

I'm working 7-1 tomorrow (ugh) and night crew on Friday (yaaah!).

- The Barbarian

Sunday, August 12, 1984

Song of the day: I Wanna Rock - Twisted Sister

Man, am I tired1 Got up at 6, went to work at 7. I worked till 1, actually there wasn't much to do. Then Mr. C asked if I could stay till 6, working in beer. I said sure. I got lotsa moolah, but I am totally beat.

[Aunt Redacted] goes home tomorrow morning.

- The Barbarian 

Monday, August 13, 1984

Song of the day: Shapes of Things - Gary Moore

Top 5 at Five
1. Still Loving You - Scorpions
2. Walking on a Thin Line - Huey Lewis and the News
3. The Warrior - Scandal
4. Midnight Maniac - Krokus
5. I Love You Suzanne - Lou Reed

Dreary day. All it did was rain on and off all day. [Aunt Redacted] left at 2 in a limo. She got home alright.

Sheer boredom.

- The Barbarian

Tuesday, August 14, 1984

Song of the day: All Night Long - Billy Squier

Top 5 at Five
1. Walking on a Thin Line - Huey Lewis and the News
2. When You Close Your Eyes - Night Ranger
3. Still Loving You - Scorpions
4. Bobbie Jean - Bruce Springsteen
5. Pretty Persuasion - R.E.M.

Boring day. We went to the Methuen Mall. I bought a couple of pins: Twisted Sister and Judas Priest (Metallian). I also got the new Hit Parader and a Creem Metal special.

Mom got me an appointment with an eye doctor so I can get contact lenses! It's on Friday. Wow!

[Drummer dude]'s going to sleep over at the Centrum tonight. I left $20 in the mailbox and he said he'll come by around 12 to get it. I hope he gets it.

- The Barbarian

Wednesday, August 15, 1984

Song of the day: I Can't Drive 55 - Sammy Hagar

Yaah! I got the ticket! Actually, [drummer dude]'s gonna give it to me on Friday. But I got it! Rush! I finally get to see them. I hope I can talk Mom into letting me go. But, hopefully the Dio show will go off alright and Mom will say OK. I hope!

On the way to soccer today (on my bike) I met [another cute girl from school]. Oh my gosh. She had just got out of her swimming pool! Is she a beauty or what? I couldn't believe what a babe she is! Too bad she's going with [friend of mine] or else I'd ask her. Incredible!

Soccer practice is now at 5:30. We didn't have it today because it was too hot. [Buddy] came by in his van and we went burning all over Kingston. The freshmen cheerleaders were practicing at the field house. We noticed one girl who was pretty nice. [Buddy] said he's gonna try and see if she wants to go with him. Things with [his chick] aren]t going too quickly. Kinda like me and [cute chick].

- The Barbarian

Thursday, August 16, 1984

Song of the day: The Horrorteria - Twisted Sister

Top 5 at Five
1. The Last in Line - Dio
2. Hello Again - The Cars
3. Rock You - Helix
4. Crazy - Peter Wolf
5. Faraway Eyes - Adrenaline

Didn't do much today. Got my check ($81.25). I met [female classmate] at the Bucket. She's a babe.

At 5:30, I went to soccer practice. It went alright. I was a little sore afterwards, but not too sore.

- The Barbarian

Friday, August 17, 1984

Song of the day: Drop Dead Legs - Van Halen

Top 5 at Five
1. Bobbie Jean - Bruce Springsteen
2. Still Loving You - Scorpions
3. Leave My Kitten Alone - The Beatles
4. I Can't Drive 55 - Sammy Hagar
5. The Last in Line - Dio

Whew! What a day (night?). I stayed up till 4:30 last night and got up at noon. At 1:30 I rode to the Carriage Town Plaza for my eye check. My vision is 20/120. I tried on contacts. They felt pretty good. Dr. said they'll be ready in a week. Awesome! On the way home, I saw [cute girl] drive by, [dude] drive by and (I think) [cute girl and someone else] who said hi to me. I couldn't tell because I didn't have my glasses on.

At 5:30, I went to practice. I got home at 8, ate dinner and went to work. The crew was me [and six other guys]. We had over 30 pallets but we were done early. I stayed awake! I got home at 7 and went to bed. Good morning!

- The Barbarian

Saturday, August 18, 1984

Song of the day: Three Lock Box - Sammy Hagar

I got up at 1:30 p.m. At 3, I went to the Basket to see what my hours are. [Supervisor] had me down for Sun 1-6, Tues., Wed. and Fri 3-10 and Sat 12-10. I told him about soccer and he gave Tues., Wed. and Fri. to someone else.

Mom and me went to Exeter and I got 2 pairs of cords, 1 pair of jeans (all Levis), a pair of Nikes and a free wallet.

That's it!

- The Barbarian

Sunday, August 19, 1984

Song of the day: High an' Dry - Def Leppard

I got up at 10:30, took the garbage out and went to work at 1. [Guitar dude] asked me if I would lend him my car because he couldn't get a ride home (at 1). I, stupidly, said yes. Fortunately he got it back alright. He left his keys in it. We're gonna get together and practice tomorrow. [Drummer dude] will pick us up because Mom's taking the car at 6. I have to go for my physical first, though.

- The Barbarian

Monday, August 20, 1984

ROBERT PLANT'S BIRTHDAY

Song of the day: Rock n' Roll's Gonna Save the World - Y&T 

Top 5 at Five
1. The Last in Line - Dio
2. Leave My Kitten Alone - The Beatles
3. Hello Again - The Cars
4. New Girl Now - Honeymoon Suite
5. The Warrior - Scandal

Wow! I got up at 10:40, 20 minutes after I was supposed to have my physical. I rode down to the school, got it over with and got home by 12. I had some breakfast and then [drummer dude] called at 1 and said we were gonna practice. So, before they came, I quickly vaccumed and washed the dishes. When we got to [drummer dude]'s house, we started to do "Foolin'" by Leppard. I didn't play any guitar today. I sang lead vocals on "Foolin", but I didn't do too hot 'cause my voice can't hit the high notes. It kept cracking on the high parts. Also, we had and taped 2 jams (actually the other dudes did the jammin', I just watched). I got home at 5 and took off for soccer practice. I got home at 8. I'm gonna try and write some songs tomorrow.

- The Barbarian

Postscript: Lots going on in this installment. I got fitted for contact lenses after a few years of squinting because I refused to wear my dorky glasses. I played soccer the previous year with everything blurry; hey, I could see the ball and differentiate my teammates from the opponent. But contacts definitely changed things for the better.

Scored tickets to a couple of big arena concerts: Dio/Twisted Sister and Rush. This was big because my parents actually started letting me go to things. Previously, I just read about concerts.

The band thing was still sorta happening, but it was becoming quickly apparent that I brought next to nothing to the table.

Another new development was working a night crew. They'd lock us in the store after close on Friday or Saturday and we'd stock shelves all night. We'd crank music and eat food and have a blast, all while making time and a half. 

Soccer practice started. I was riding my bike to practice. I can still remember that first day running into the hot chick in the bikini. Damn.