RD THOUGHTS – December 17, 2006 pt 1

“Where have all the good times gone?” part 1 of 2

Well, another year is coming and going. It seems to me like life is still going at high gear and shows no signs of slowing down. Back in the day when I was little, I thought of a year as being a long year; you know, not knowing how long a day is, only knowing that you wake up when the sun comes up and go to sleep when the sun goes down.

It’s late here in LA, what was supposed to be a big rain storm instead turned into a light to moderate rain event that lasted no more than an hour. Well, better to rain while I’m not on the road.

I just finished watching a movie called “Van Wilder”, one of those National Lampoon movies; which is about a student at a Harvard-like school who has been in college for six years plus, looking to stick around longer. I don’t know about you, but I’m sure many of us thought of that at one point or another while going to a big school like Harvard, USC, UCLA or even Florida. Gotta love those people who go to school in the Sunshine State, especially towards spring break, when they head out to Daytona Beach and . . . well, anything goes. It was a good movie, one of those guy-meets-girl stories, and the guy changes for the better due to the girl’s influence in his life. Tara Reid was excellent in the film, and there were some very funny moments; so if you ever get the chance by all means check it out. For me, that movie meant something to me. For six-plus years, since coming here to Los Angeles, I have really accomplished absolutely nothing. I was dismissed from two jobs (one that was no fault of my own), quit four others because I either found something better or got fed up with broken promises and bad pay. I expected a lot of things when I came out here; and so far I have not reached my potential here. But I won’t cry over spilled milk over that. I will succeed here, and I will do whatever it takes to make it big here, and it will be done the right way too. I’m not doing it for someone or for anyone else. I’m doing this for myself.


I was looking back at some notes that I took during my fun days, back in 1988 . . . well, the ones that I have here and not stored in a box 250 miles away. Back at this time in ’88, I was enjoying probably one of the highlight times of my life. I had returned to Budget Car Rental in Las Vegas after an absence of four months (having worked with the former owner of the company at a used car lot; not to mention going on my very first tour out here in Southern California on September 28, 1988), and reacquainted myself with some of the old folks I worked with, as well as some new friends. Brett Reddick, the city manager at the time, is a good guy who gave me the chance to shine, very quickly I might add. Upon my return there I was immediately promoted to be the assistant fleet manager. Truly the best decision I ever made, by going back there.

During that time, two of the guys at Budget held weekend parties just north of UNLV. David “Chris” Sisson and Darrin Harrje, both of whom I consider to be very good friends of mine, were the masterminds of these parties, which they held at Chris’ apartment near UNLV, across the street from now-defunct Tower Records. Chris is from SoCal, and was attending school at UNLV, along with Scott Conway, his roomie. Anyway, about every other Saturday, Chris and Darrin would hold these parties there. I was invited to join them, which at first I was reluctant to do so, since I was still in the Sunrise Mountain area at the time. But I eventually went, and it was a good thing too. We had lots of good people there, such as Danielle Fitzmier, Melinda Nowell, Mary Beth Iozzo, John Powell, Sam Dada, Pat Butler, Terry Counts, Billy White, Barry Godwin, and a few others. I knew most of them, except for Mary Beth. I think it was the first true time I met her (I knew who she was, because I met up with some of these good people at Sunset Park before returning to Budget), and we hit it off really well. She’s from Minneapolis, about 18 or 19 at the time, and she was very outgoing and friendly towards me. I even took her out to lunch on several occasions afterwards, and enjoyed her company immensely. Danielle and Melinda were two others I had my eyes set on during ’88, even after my initial run at Budget ended in July because I was such a hot head and got fed up with miscommunication problems with the fleet manager day after day.

Danielle is an absolute angel, one of the most pleasant people you will ever meet. Melinda was the same way too. More on these two later. Sam Dada was a nut case, but a good guy nonetheless.

Darrin and Chris made all kinds of drinks, from spiked Hawaiian Punch to Jungle Juice; even had E&J, Tequila, wine coolers, pineapple drinks, coca-cola, nuts, chips, music, you name it. Chris really spiffed his place well, as if it was a party atmosphere, with lots of Christmas chase lights and decorations. It wasn’t “Animal House”, but close.

The one party I will always remember was the Hawaiian Christmas Party, on Dec. 22, 1988, and let me tell you: Danielle, Melinda and Mary Beth stole the party with the outfits they were wearing. How – do – you – DO! And folks, these are the types of outfits you don’t normally wear when it is 40 degrees or cooler outside, unless that is you’re wearing a jacket.

Chris, Darrin and later me would throw more parties into 1989, until Chris returned to Pasadena. He would make a point to come up to Vegas and hold more parties, in this case at the then-Paddlewheel; then later at another apartment he was staying at until ending this tradition for good in 1990.

You know, when I look back at those times, it sort of reminds me of being in Animal House at times; everybody having a good time, others getting drunk like a skunk, and a few even throwing up afterwards, including Sam. And I didn’t have to go to school to experience it. The real deal is different of course, and you can ask ANY party animal who went to a major university or was a member of a fraternity or sorority how their college experiences went.

I miss these guys and gals, especially Danielle and Mary Beth. Danielle is now married and living in Reno. Last I heard Mary Beth’s back in the Twin Cities. I was really bummed when Mary went back to Minnesota in ’89; but she did come back during the summer, but she didn’t like what was going on at Budget (and rightfully so, since Gary Reddick & Co. were about to sell the business to the current owners, Malco Enterprises) and walked away again. She lived in Laughlin for several years afterwards and then simply went back to Minneapolis. Her mom and dad still lives in Laughlin, so I’m guessing she still goes out there every now and then; certainly not when it’s over 120 degrees during the summer. I was really foolish for not realizing that I let a potentially good thing get away, not once but twice, and did not take advantage of the situation on both counts.

Mary Beth’s successor, same result. Again, I was foolish for letting this girl get away too, and for not taking full advantage of something that was standing right in my face. And that girl was a young, tall and very attractive native of Duchesne, Utah. That’s all you need to know right now, and I will add more on that subject next time around.

In any event, to all of my old comrades at Budget between May 1988 and September 1990, I miss all of you and hope you are doing well with your current endeavors wherever you may be. If we could all gather together one last time, anytime anywhere, let’s do it.


---PART TWO COMING UP---