Well, dear readers, we had one of those beautiful Los Angeles days yesterday – warm, sunny, and clear as a bell. Clear as a bell? Is that right? Is it clean as a bell? No, no, that’s clean as a whistle. Is it clear as a whistle? No, no, whistles aren’t clear. Are whistles even clean? Are bells clear? Are bells clean? Well, it was clear as something yesterday, be it bell or whistle or what-have-you. My goodness, these here notes are off to a fine start, aren’t they? I managed to ship out all but three book orders (which came in after five o’clock) so people should start receiving them fairly soon. I printed out a copy of my script and tomorrow or Wednesday I’ll start going through it and seeing what I like and don’t like. Then I’ll make whatever changes I deem necessary and then I’ll send it off to the producer. My rug arrived a day early, and now it is sitting on the floor of my den like so much fish and it looks quite nice. This week is turning into a busy one all of a sudden – Wednesday I have a dentist appointment, then a quick meeting with Marcy, the Marketing Lady, then getting together with our very own Richard Valley. Thursday, an art dealer friend is coming to visit, then I’m supposed to go see a taping that Kevin Spirtas is doing in Pasadena. Then I’m attending the eighty-eighth birthday bash of Forest J. Ackerman in Hollywood, where I’m quite certain I will know many people. And there are other things going on, too, which I can’t remember at the moment. I must put many things to bed in November, because in December I am starting on two count them two new book projects – one fiction (which I was going to start working on in June, but then What If came along), and one non-fiction. I’m excited about both projects and I love working on two disparate things at one time. Prior to June, I’d made lots of notes on the fiction book and now it’s just a matter of getting the book back into my head and letting it take over my thoughts. The non-fiction book will be fun, but doesn’t require all that much thought in terms of having to create things anew as in a fiction book. Isn’t that exciting? Isn’t that just too too?
Last night I watched a videotape I found lying around – it had on it a Boston performance of Grand Hotel (see yesterday’s posts for my thoughts), and then the first preview performance in New York at the Martin Beck. What a world of difference between the two performances. In Boston, Maury Yeston hadn’t been brought in yet, but by New York all his songs were in. There was still tweaking going on, but the whole show is suddenly cohesive and finding its tone and voice. I wish I could say the quality of the video was clean as a whistle or clear as a bell but it’s pretty bad. Fun to have, though.
Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below because the day is young, which is more than I can say, and I have many things that must be done.
Might I just ask where in tarnation this year has gone? Last I knew it was January, and here it is, November. I want next year to slow down a bit so I can stop and smell the coffee or the roses or the fried chicken. I’ve also decided I must travel next year. Speaking of traveling, the hotel rates in New York the week I’m going to be there are totally outrageous. I went to expedia and priceline, but I just don’t know the hotels that are a bit less expensive, so I don’t want to take a chance. I’ve booked my usual hotel, the Doubletree, but I will be checking around over the next couple of weeks to see if rates go down. Apparently, according to hoteliers in New York, that first weekend in December is always busy – people staying over from the Christmas tree lighting, and apparently it’s also a big post-Thanksgiving shopping weekend. Oh, well, one has to do what one has to do and at least I’ve got my plane and hotel taken care of. If something comes along that’s cheaper then I’ll cancel the hotel reservation, which I can do all the way up until the day before I come.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must do many errands, I must attend to many things, I must make many calls, I must relax and I must try to be both clear as a bell and clean as a whistle or vice versa or even versa vice. Today’s topic of discussion: What was your first big roadshow picture – you know, reserved seats, big screen, stereo sound. Tell us all about the experience and then tell us your other favorite big roadshow pictures. Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we? We shall.