Well, dear readers, I’m not quite certain how it happened, but it’s already Wednesday. I believe someone somewhere is performing magic tricks with these days and weeks, which are disappearing like Houdini. Did Houdini disappear? Was that his thing? If Houdini didn’t disappear, who did? Someone must have disappeared, magic-wise. I know rabbits and swans appear, but who disappears? Houdini? I think he was famous for locking himself in chains and then unlocking himself. So, why did I think of him when I said “disappearing”? Why am I talking about Houdini? Oh, yes, because the days are disappearing and I said it was like someone was performing magic, namely Houdini. Speaking of Houdini, I had a perfectly lovely beginning of March yesterday. First I had a visit from the Floor and Roof People. The first nice thing was they didn’t show up too early. The second nice thing is the news from them was excellent – the repairs can and will be done very swiftly, with absolutely no inconvenience to me. Then I wrote – I was having a spot of trouble, but I took a shower and once again everything came clear to me and on I went, on a completely different tack. It’s really just a short detour but now that I’ve begun it I can see that it always had to be this way. I ran the idea by Margaret and she agreed. I then did some errands, ate some yummilicious food and did some stuff around the house. I also got a nice little check from the WGA for The Faculty – foreign residuals. Our quarterly royalty statement should be here soon, as well. Now, about these disappearing days and Houdini – I have nothing further to say on the subject, except I would like to solve The Case of the Disappearing Days.
Last night I watched a motion picture on DVD entitled The Palm Beach Story, a film of Preston Sturges. It’s not my favorite Sturges (that honor goes to Sullivan’s Travels) but it’s in the top four, Sturges-wise). The film starts off with an incredible title sequence – one actually has very little idea what in HELL is going on, but it all pays off later. We then get a classic Sturges scene with Claudette Colbert and an old gentleman who is looking to perhaps rent her apartment. Then we get a long train ride with the Ale and Quail Club. Frankly, and I know this is heresy, I could use a little less of the Ale and Quail club – it just goes on a little too long for its own good. But, then as soon as Rudy Vallee enters the film, it’s right back on track and never falters once before its breathless conclusion. This film has more great lines that thirty of today’s “comedies” put together. Even if you put together thirty of today’s “comedies” it still probably wouldn’t have as many great lines as The Palm Beach Story. They come hurtling off the screen one after another, and are delivered with absolute perfection by every single member of the cast. And what a cast – Mr. Joel McCrea, one of the great leading men of all-time, Miss Colbert, Mr. Vallee, and a brilliantly funny turn by Miss Mary Astor. The DVD is wonderfully sharp, with beautiful contrast. If you have somehow managed to miss this film, you simply owe it to yourself to get it – you won’t be sorry. It’s bargain-priced and can be found for as low as seven bucks. And tell them Bruce-o sent you.
What am I, Ebert and Roeper all of a sudden? Why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button before it, like the days and weeks, disappears like Houdini or whoever the HELL disappears.
Today, I shall be picking up scads more sheet music to go through. And tonight I shall be supping with our very own Pogue and his ever-lovin’ Julieanne.
I must say that ever since I changed phones to 5.8gh I have not had one single problem with the Internet or my wireless Airport Extreme. So, it was definitely my other 2.4gh phone that was causing all the trouble. For those who might not be aware – all computer wireless devices use the 2.4gh frequency. Might I just ask why all these fancy-shmancy frequencies use Mr. Guy Haines’ initials?
I must go out and buy a new overnight bag. The one I have been using for the last twelve years is nice, but useless. It has no pockets, no places to put anything – it’s like a gym bag, basically. So, I need a small overnight bag with different compartments and stuff, that will easily fit in the overhead compartment and that is easy to carry. Where does one find such items?
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must write, I must do some errands, I must pick up sheet music, I must dine with the Pogues, and I must ponder the mystery of the disappearing days. Didn’t Erle Stanley Gardner write The Case of the Disappearing Days? Or is that the title of my next novel? Today’s topic of discussion: It’s Ask BK Day, the day in which you get to ask me or any dear reader any old question you like, and we all get to give any old answer we like. So, let’s have loads of lovely questions and loads of lovely postings, shall we? We shall.