Well, dear readers, I am the running man. Yes, you heard it here, dear readers, I, BK, am the running man. Every day for, what, the last seven or eight weeks, I have jogged. When I began jogging again, it had been a year since my last jog. That first day I could barely go five blocks without feeling like I was going to fall over and die right there on the pavement. By the third day I was up to a mile-and-a-half, and after a week, I was doing my customary two-mile jog, which I’ve continued to do every day. In New York, I did a little more than two-miles. But twice now, I’ve done two-and-a-half miles followed by a brisk two-mile walk, and while I know that’s not much in the scheme of things, it’s really difficult for a sixty-year-old Jew. But I am determined to lose the weight I want to lose, and this is the only way I know how. It’s been the slowest weight loss ever, which I think has to do with my age – certainly I’ve changed my metabolism, and I’ve been eating the amount of calories I need to eat to lose weight, but it’s been like pulling teeth – so far I’ve only lost eight pounds or so, maybe ten, and I really should have dropped fifteen by this time. So, it’s going to be awhile until I’d down to where I want to be, but already my pants fit so much better and I do like that. And so I shall soldier on, as difficult as it is, and when I get down to my optimal weight I make this promise – I will never, EVER, allow myself to gain back the weight I lost. And that will be writ large in stone. Speaking of stone, yesterday was an interesting day, for reasons I no longer remember. For example, I got up. That was interesting. I then jogged, doing my new route, only instead of turning back at the one-mile point, I kept going straight, going all the way to Vineland, which is the two-mile point. Then I turned around and did another half-mile. And then I walked the rest of the two miles home rather briskly. The walk was actually more difficult than the jog, isn’t that funny? By the time I got home, I was beyond pooped. I answered some e-mails, and then did some errands, all the while hoping the new Kritzerland title would go live on the website. My web designer did write saying she would do her best to get it up and running by last evening, but that didn’t happen. She did assure me if it wasn’t up last night, it would be today, for sure. I’m hoping “today” doesn’t mean tonight. But, for those who don’t know, the new Kritzerland release is the original soundtrack recording to Scent Of Mystery in Glorious Smell-O-Vision. This is sort of a dream project for me, because those who’ve read the Kritzer trilogy know just how much I loved the film and its smells. I’ve also written about the film and what happened to it extensively here on this site. The score is by Mario Nascimbene, and it features two songs sung by Eddie Fisher. It’s in Glorious Stereophonic Sound and my booklet designer had so much fun with his design – I think it’s worth it just for the booklet and inlay card, frankly. I write about the history of the film and what happened to it in the booklet, and I’m happy to say that with a few easy to find items in your home, the booklet can be experienced in Glorious Smell-O-Vision – you’ll understand how when you get the CD. So, check the posts and I’ll let you know when it’s up for preorder, or just keep visiting the Kritzerland site. This CD is a limited edition of 1000 copies only, and I can tell you right now that a third of the 1000 are already sold to online dealers (there may be a couple more online dealers taking quantity, too), so there are really only 650 copies at this point. So, don’t procrastinate on this one – when they’re gone, they’re gone. Once it’s up on the site, you’ll be able to see the cover art, and listen to sample tracks and, of course, order the CD.
Then I had to do a couple more errands, and I had my one and only meal at Islands – a burger (much smaller than they used to make) and a few fries. That’s all I ate all day. I then came home and sat on my couch like so much fish.
Last night, I watched a home-grown DVD of a concert version of Promises, Promises, done by Ovations in Chicago back in 2001, and starring our very own Jason Graae, along with George Hearn and, I presume, a lot of local Chicago talent. Having just seen the Encores version of Follies, I was struck once again how much I don’t like these faux concerts that do the entire book of a show, with some staging, but not really. Jason relied a little too much on shtick for my taste, but otherwise sang it very well – I think he probably had no director and little time. The band sounded great, although the tempos were on the slow side. Poor Turkey Lurky Time was pointless without the dance (the number just petered out), as did A Fact Can Be A Beautiful Thing. I do love the score, all of it. Usually people point to songs like Where Can You Find A Girl as being terrible, but if performed correctly, it’s a great little number – certainly it worked on Broadway, and it even worked in this concert version. Neil Simon’s book is hilarious, and someday we’re going to get a first-class revival of the show. I did manage to avoid potential mine fields, thanks to your excellent vibes and xylophones.
Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below because I must get my beauty sleep and then be the running man by morning.
Today, I must really avoid mine fields, so keep those excellent vibes and xylophones coming, please. I’ll be jogging in the morning, then having lunch with former dear reader Hisaka, then I’ll be hopefully getting orders on the new Kritzerland release – really praying it’s up and running when I get up this morning. Then we have our second round of music rehearsals starting at five-thirty. We should be through with them by about 7:30.
Tomorrow, I have a lot of prepping to do for the reading, in terms of figuring out staging things – I’m trying something interesting with the reading of stage directions, which I think is going to work really well – I’ve certainly never seen it done before, but I have a feeling if it works as well as I’m hoping, we’ll be seeing it plenty in future readings. Then in the evening I’m supposed to attend the reading of a new musical, which will be interesting.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, jog, lunch, hopefully have the new Kritzerland title live on the website and hopefully getting lots and lots of orders in, and hopefully avoiding mine fields, and then I must have a music rehearsal. Today’s topic of discussion: It’s Bad Casting Day – what is the most “off” or wrong cast you can think of for the new haineshisway.com revival of The King and I? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I, BK, the running man continue my quest to lose thirty pounds.