Well, dear readers, hold your hats and hallelujah because BK’s gonna show it to ya. And just what is BK gonna show ya? Well, I’ll tell ya what BK is gonna show ya, because why should I keep such things from ya dear readers? Before I show it to ya, perhaps we’d all better just put on our pointy party hats and our colored tights and pantaloons, perhaps we’d better break out the cheese slices and the ham chunks, perhaps we’d better dance the Hora and the Lambada (The Forbidden Dance), because what BK’s gonna show ya is the following: Today, yes today, if the fifth anniversary of the birth of haineshisway.com. This site, born out of a great deal of pain and misery, took its first breath on November 9, 2001. Yes, you heard it here, dear readers, this site started its existence on November 9, 2001 and we’ve been going strong ever since. In fact, I think it’s fairly safe to say that soon we will be the most popular site on all the Internet. Certainly, we have been a very influential site on the Internet – a mere peek at various and sundried other sites will tell you that. In fact, I’d say we were One Singular Sensation. Since we began on November 9, 2001, I have written a daily whatever-it-is, and I’m proud to say that I have never missed a day in all that time. That is something along the lines of 1400 daily blatherings, which might just be some sort of Internet record (I’m sure it’s not, but it might be). When we began, we had a small but wonderful group of people, some of whom are still here, and some of whom aren’t (people come, people go, like Grand Hotel). We’ve had our ups (mostly ups) and downs (only a handful), but over the years I’d say we’ve created the most lovely place on all the Internet – with a wonderful family of regulars, and a large legion of lurkers (LLL, in Internet lingo). We’ve got people all over this wonderful world posting here – we’re truly International here at haineshisway.com.
In the original version of the site, we did our posts directly after the notes – it was simple and sweet and fun, but, thanks to some tiresome troublemakers (they know who they are), and because one then dear reader had a stalker here, it became apparent that I had to take some control of things, and thus our Discussion Board was born. It did take some getting used to, but I think we’ve all grown to embrace it and enjoy its special features. And since we’ve had it, none of the tiresome troublemakers have returned, because they know how easily I can deal with that sort of thing.
We’ve had birthdays, and partays, and Awards partays, and close friendships have been made, and there have been many hainsies/kimlets get-togethers over the years. We’ve even achieved the rather astonishing record of close to 1000 postings in one day. I have perused many newsgroups and chat boards all over the Internet, and I must say that there is nothing quite like this site. We’re truly an eclectic bunch, and there is some awfully bright and intelligent discourse on this here site, as well as the downright or upleft silliness that is our trademark. Some sneer at it, some don’t find it funny, and to them I can only say, “Kiss my ASS” and “If you don’t find it funny then why do you read it every day?”
And so, this site, born out of pain and misery, has become a warm and wonderful place – a positive place, a place of humor and camaraderie, a place that just goes to show that wonderful things can spring forth from even the worst of times. We’ve survived the pain and misery, and we’ve beaten the pain and misery into a bloody pulp. And every day, more people find us and lurk or join in and I just adore all of our regulars and all of the lurkers and all of the people who’ve written me such lovely e-mails about the site. So, let us celebrate all the livelong day and night, as we celebrate the 5th anniversary of haineshisway.com, truly One Singular Sensation!
Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below so that the celebration can continue apace.
Yesterday was quite a busy little day, but a very good one. I started off by having a meeting with my set designer – he made the changes to his design that I’d requested, and we were all quite happy with them. He’s going to adjust two more little things, and that’s that. I think the set is really going to look good, and I think he did a great job, especially given the difficulty of the space we’re in. I then had to hie myself to the Oaks of Sherman to do the remix with Vinnie. When I arrived, Vinnie already had a mix done, and I listened to it, made a couple of tweaks, and we were done. It’s amazing the difference when someone just knows the gig, the routine, and Vinnie and I have been together for so long (16 years and counting) that it’s just a piece of cake and second nature. The conductor and orchestrator came over, heard it, and were more than pleased, so everyone is happy, most importantly, me.
I then went to our casting session, which went better than I thought it would. We saw some very good actors – none of the men for the bigger of the male roles quite had the requisite charisma we’re looking for, but for the other part we did see one real strong candidate, who actually came in for the other part (for which he was completely wrong). I had him stay and read the other role and, even though he read cold, he just sort of “got” the guy and I think he’s very directable, and I liked his look for the part. The part is very tricky, looks-wise, and this fellow straddled that line very well. In fact, he was sort of like a fortyish Warren Berlinger type, which is quite fun for this role. We’re seeing more men on Thursday and then we’ll do callbacks early next week. We then got some dinner and I finally came home and sat on my couch like so much fish.
Last night, I watched a motion picture on DVD entitled Rue des Plaisirs, un film de my favorite director working today, Patrice Leconte. It’s yet another wonderful film, and completely different to all his other films. That’s what I love about this guy – he never makes the same film twice. Every film is a new adventure, and he’s just the real deal. The film’s story is told by three hookers – unable to get customers on a rainy night, they recount the tale of a hooker they knew and the fellow who was in love with her, and the hooker’s desire to find true love. Most of the film is a long flashback to 1945, and it’s just filled with warmth and sweetness, until it turns tragic. As with all Mr. Leconte’s films, the movie is beautifully shot and edited – there is no score, just songs and source music, but for once the choice not only works perfectly, it makes complete sense. The transfer on the region 2 DVD is exquisite in every way.
I say, hold your hats and hallelujah, let’s get on with our partay, shall we? I want to hear singing, I want page dances, I want confetti and rice and shoes and merriment and mirth and laughter and legs.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, celebrate, celebrate, I must write, I must pick up sheet music, I must Xerox sheet music, I must ship some packages, and then I must rehearse and teach the two big musical numbers to the LACC kids who will be in them. Today’s topic of discussion: All things haineshisway.com. How did you find us, when did you join us, what are your favorite memories, and whatever else you’d like to say about this here site. Let’s be having loads of lovely postings all the livelong day and night, whilst we all shout, “Hold your hats and hallelujah” for the One Singular Sensation and soon to be most popular site on all the Internet!