January 12, 1942

Dear Mother and Dad,

Just came in from a walk. Nelson, Andy,--Andy is a new fellow here in the house, an engineer, and a grand fellow,--and I just made a tour of the neighborhood. The temperature is and was about seventy five or eighty degrees, the sky is and was clear, and the sunset was beautiful. Andy is now in his room writing home to his parents--his home is S.F.--Nelson is reading a story and waiting to borrow my typewriter, and me, well, I'm proceeding to have some fun writing the news.

Sorry you can't be here to share a little of this warm weather with me. It's funny what eight hundred miles difference makes in the temperature--glad it doesn't make eight hundred degrees difference in the weather! To give you a more vivid picture of how warm it really is, I guess I should tell you how much bedding I used last night--one sheet. If I weren't here I wouldn't believe it. Do you? Gad, I had better shut up about the weather. Just remembered that it is cold back there. Sounds as though I am gloating and turning into a typical Californian.

One of the boys just came in--Chris. He has been working. He had to go out to the Douglas plant today and pile sand bags. He just said: "God Dam, have got to take a shower, have got sand in my hair, in my shoes, down my back and in my shoes". Guess he had a lot in his shoes. He said that the Army is moving more anti air craft guns in and stationing more men on guard Sum-thin' must be brewin'.

Well, there is no news to speak of. Still "hell-bent" or bust for something at the plant, am still pounding at the doors of advertising, and am still having a lot of fun in general. Went to a show last night with the gang here in the house, and am now all set for another week. I haven't received my emblem of merit yet from the school but am expecting it any day. I got another lesson back a few days ago, and, guess what?, got an A. Andy, the new fellow I was telling you about, knows a couple of people who are working in advertising agencies. He is going to introduce them to me. Will tell you about it when I meet them. Write soon and don't freeze your tootsies. Gad, sound just like a native Californian. Love, Tom