Well, dear readers, welcome to 2009, a brand spanking New Year, and we are hoping and praying that it will be a wondrous, happy, healthy year with much prosperity and creativity and positiveness abounding. It seems like only yesterday that it was 2008. Of course it WAS only yesterday that it was 2008, so that explains that. Speaking of 2008, yesterday was a doozy. Those who’ve read yesterday’s posts know that for me personally 2008 went out in a rather interesting way. Briefly, I woke up around six, had to go use the bathroom but wasn’t quite awake, got out of bed way too fast, got very dizzy in the bathroom, and instead of just sitting down until the dizziness passed, I tried to hurry back to the bed. Unfortunately, I never made it. As soon as I entered the bedroom the next thing I knew was my face, ribcage, and knee were all smashing into my dresser and I was going down to the floor. I snapped to, avoided the floor, and staggered to the bed, where I plopped down. I was in a little bit of shock, frankly. I felt my face and didn’t feel blood. My knee really hurt and my ribcage was a little sore, and my chin was very sore. I could feel that I’d bitten into the skin on the side of my cheek and, in fact, there was a little blood from having done so. I stayed in bed for about ten minutes, then got up to survey the damage to my chin – there was a huge red gash there, but no blood to speak of. I put a Band-Aid on it and immediately got back into bed and didn’t move for the next three hours. When I got up, my ribcage didn’t hurt all that much, and my knee, while sore, wasn’t too too bad. I felt a little squeamish, but I think that was because I actually looked at my dresser and saw what had happened. I’d obviously blacked out for just about a half-second to a second, and in that time I think my face rammed into the stereo speaker, which sent piles of CDs careening and moved the TV and the stereo system (three things stacked on top of each other) AND the other speaker all the way on the other side all akimbo (obmika, spelled backwards). The candle that rests on top of the speaker was on the floor. I was rather amazed that the force of the collapse was able to move speakers and stereo units and such like that. I was very fortunate that no serious damage was done – another inch up and I would have split my lip, lost some teeth, and maybe even broken my nose. Thank God none of that happened. I’d had a similar thing happen back in 2001, and I was told that if you’re getting up from a particularly sound sleep and coming out of a deep dream and you rise quickly that the blood drains to your lower extremities and can cause momentary blackouts. Since that happened, I have, for the last seven years, been very careful to always make sure I’m fully awake before getting out of bed, and I normally rise very slowly and move very slowly. The minute I got out of bed yesterday I knew I’d done it too damn fast, and I knew it was going to lead to no good. In any case, I hate when stuff like that happens and I was so irked that despite the sore knee I did the long jog anyway, just going very slowly and taking it easy. My knee actually didn’t bother me for the last two-thirds of the run. I then went in the Jacuzzi for about thirty minutes, which was helpful. Then I did some stuff on the computer, and then I showered and toddled off to the editing room to chat with the fellow who’ll be editing the Kevin and Sean show. We talked about the audio, and then I mentioned a few things to look for and how to deal with them, and I told him there were a lot of pickups to cover various and sundried flubs in the patter and staging. He’ll now do a first pass by himself, after which I’ll go in and finesse it and then Kevin and Sean will see it and give their notes, we’ll do fixes, and then we’ll probably have two days of audio mixing to get the sound right, and that will be that. Then, if we’re all completely satisfied with it, Kritzerland will issue it on DVD. After that, I attended an early supper at an Eyetalian jernt in the Bank of Bur. The food was okay – I had penne arrabiata, which was just a little too spicy for me. But I also had three little pieces of what they call their baby pizza – very small slices, maybe the equivalent of one normal sized slice. I ate less than half of my penne, and I had a dinner salad. It was nice, and then I headed home for our annual New Year’s Rockin’ Eve bash. By that time, my knee was pretty sore again, so I sat on my couch like so much fish, and chose a wonderful, positive film for my New Year’s Eve viewing pleasure.
Last night, I watched a wonderful, positive film for my New Year’s Eve viewing pleasure entitled Scrooge, starring Mr. Albert Finney as the titular Scrooge, directed by Ronald Neame, with a screenplay and score by Leslie Bricusse. I first saw the film on the day it opened and I loved it instantly. I was surprised by its tepid critical reception and by the almost total disregard of it by audiences (except at the Radio City Music Hall, where it apparently did very well). But, over the years, as sometimes happens the critics all conveniently forget their tepid reaction and Scrooge is now considered something of a classic. Some of us knew it back then and I’m glad we’ve been vindicated. Mr. Finney (who also received tepid reviews) is brilliant in the title role, and the large supporting cast is terrific, as well. Mr. Neame is a wonderful director and he does a really good job telling the classic Dickens story. And Mr. Bricusse’s score is his finest hour – the music is great, and his lyrics, while occasionally shoddy, get the job done. The transfer would probably look better if done today, but the color is perfect and it still looks pretty damn good. And that was my evening – that and attending the haineshisway.com New Year’s Rockin’ Eve Bash, which was, as always, a great deal of fun. I also did my annual and very personal contemplation, just prior to midnight and the changing of the year.
Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below because, after all, it’s 2009 – and God Bless Us, Every One.
Today, I shall begin work on a new novel, even if it’s only writing the title page and page one. Luckily, I know how it opens and I should be able to get through at least page one. I shall then attend a New Year’s Day party at the home of Barry Pearl and his ever-lovin’ Cindy. I’ll know lots of folks, and the food spread is excellent. I’ll probably stay a couple of hours. Other than that, I’ll probably listen to CDs and watch a DVD or three.
Tomorrow, I may or may not get together with David Wechter, who’ll be finished with his first pass through the Nudie Musical script. We’ll go over all the changes and fixes and we’ll discuss the elimination of one character, which I’ve pretty much decided needs to be done. I may also try to see a film. Also, I’m very hopeful CDs will arrive and I’ll get all those shipped out, too.
The weekend is pretty free and clear, and then on Monday I have a lot of meetings to schedule and I’ll be attempting to write every day. I have a script to read, too, as I’ve been asked about directing a reading of a new musical. If I like it, and then if they like me, then we’ll see if we can work it all out.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, do the long jog (only if the knee really feels better), start a new novel, attend a partay, and listen to CDs and watch DVDs. Today’s topic of discussion: What are your New Year’s Resolutions? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst we welcome in 2009 – and God Bless Us, Every One.