Well, dear readers, I must write these notes in a hurry because I have to get up very early to do all my early things, for if I don’t do my early things early then they shan’t get done at all and one simply must have one’s early things done or one simply isn’t with it. And so, I shall write these notes speedily, like a gazelle on Lithium. Speaking of Lithium, yesterday was a day in which several things happened, very few of which I can remember because I am senile. For example, I got up. That I remember. I then did the long jog, which wasn’t too too difficult. I then showered and by the time I finished, Mr. Barry Pearl was a knockin’ at the door. We drove to his friend’s house, and then his friend drove us all the Langer’s Deli. Langer’s Deli is located in a not-so-wonderful neighborhood – in fact, the restaurant closes at four in the afternoon because on one wants to go there after dark. The restaurant was jammed with diners, but we were lucky enough to get a table immediately. We ordered quickly, and I must say the boys ordered a humungous amount of food for the table, including soup, chopped liver, potato pancakes, and kishka (the latter was my idea, since Langer’s has great kishka). Additionally, they each ordered a sandwich. I ordered my usual pastrami on rye with cole slaw and Russian dressing on the sandwich. It took all my strength to not pig out on all those dishes, but I WAS strong and only had one little piece of kishka, one tiny bite of chopped liver (just to taste), no soup, and no potato pancakes (and boy were they tempting). My sandwich was incredibly incredible – so lean and hot and, unlike a lot of delis, not overloaded with meat – a very reasonably sized sandwich. About halfway through the lunch, a very nice couple was seated at the booth directly next to us (it could almost have been part of our booth). The man was very gregarious, the woman very quiet. He was staring at our kishka, and finally I spoke to him and he asked what it was and we told him, and from then on it was almost like he was with us. It was really funny. He was from Brooklyn, and he and Barry were joking about food and peppers and Eyetalians and Jews. We all had a grand time. Afterwards, the gregarious man shook our respective hands, and Barry’s friend and I went to the counter to pay our portion of the bill, while Barry hung at the booth to get something he ordered to go. When he came up to pay, he told us the name of the man, which we all recognized immediately, at least his last name. When he first introduced himself to us, he asked us all what we did, and then told us he was a crook. Well, as it turns out, that wasn’t far from the truth. While I won’t mention the name, I can only tell you he comes from what was one of the biggest crime families in New York. I told Barry I wanted to go back and get his number, as I could think of at least a couple of people who could use a visit from such a person, but we left instead. As soon as I got home, I had to go right back out and do a bunch of errands. I went to Staples and dropped off the Nudie Musical disc to get three scripts printed, then did a few more errands, then came back and got the scripts. I finally came home, and I never did get around to shipping the packages I needed to ship (including a reorder from an online store). I had several e-mails to answer and a couple of telephonic calls to return. And then it was time to sit on my couch like so much fish.
Last night, I watched an HBO/BBC mini-series entitled Five Days. While HBO takes the lion’s share of the billing, the fact is the show was aired on the BBC first, then HBO got involved and, in fact, asked for part of the ending to be re-shot, as well as two small additional scenes added to one episode. I gather they thought us stupid Americans wouldn’t get it, so they did what they always do and layed everything on with a shovel. The DVD box would have you believe that what you were about to watch was a white-knuckle thriller with many exciting twists. Note to copywriter – when you make such inane, ridiculous statements the result will be you will have terrible word of mouth from most people because there are no white-knuckle scenes and no twists. What the show really is is a drama with a crime and the crime is secondary to the drama. The first three episodes were superb, although I am not a fan of the style of direction and certainly the score was about as bad as a score can be. But, the writing was great, and the performances were all excellent. The final two episodes weren’t quite as good, and the final revelation (or whodunit) is perfunctory and not that interesting, but overall I was riveted and the acting alone is reason enough to see the show. It’s very compelling, and had it not promised something it never intended to deliver and had it had a really good score, it would have even been better, because the writing and the acting were top-notch. The transfer is okay – not exceptional, but okay.
Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below because I must get to bed soon so I can get my beauty sleep so I can do my early things.
Today, I must do early things, like a long jog, packaging up several orders that do need to get shipped out today, attending a meeting in Culver City, then doing organizational things around the home environment, then having something to eat, then meeting Kevin Spirtas at a venue we’re checking out. It will be a long and winding day.
Tomorrow, I have things to do, places to go, and people to see, and then I’m attending the opening night of Vanities. And then I think this is Labor Day Weekend, is it not, in which case I shall be lazy and do only things I wish to do. I do have a Labor Day partay to attend down the street at Tony Slide and Bob Gitt’s home environment, and attend I shall.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, do a long jog, package up orders, attend an important meeting, organize, eat, and check out a venue. Today’s topic of discussion: There have been many incredible British mini-series and series – what are your all-time favorites? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I get some sleep so I can do my early things.