Well, dear readers, it’s already the second day of 2009. This year is already flying by, like a gazelle with oh so kissable lips. Certainly in Los Angeles, California, USA one could not have asked for a more beautiful day – blue skies smiling at me, temperatures in the mid-70s, and a laid back sort of feeling. I got up around nine-fifteen, and began writing by ten. I wrote six pages of a new novel, which is more than I’ve ever written on the first day of writing a new novel. It was a novel way to start the New Year – a novel beginning. I had a lot of fun doing it and it was a great way to start off both the day and 2009. I decided not to do the long jog, as my knee was still sore, so I puttered around the house, did some cleanup work on what I’d written, then shaved and showered and toddled off to a New Year’s Day partay at the home of Mr. Barry Pearl and his ever-lovin’ Cindy. It was a lovelier than lovely partay and I had a wonderful time chatting with people I knew and people I’d just met. One of the original Dancing Dildos, Jeff Harlan, was there and he was very excited to hear we’d be doing the stage version of Nudie. The food was quite yummilicious – I have very small amounts of a few things like brisket, one fried chicken wing, and cole slaw. And I had three very small desserts – a tiny piece of chocolate cake (like a bundt cake), some sort of little square with a crumb topping, some chocolate, and some sort of fruity paste, and a sliver of a peanut butter cheesecake. The latter had no fruity paste. I’m not altogether sure what I feel about fruity paste, not that I think about it all that often. But, fruity paste is a part of our food lives, and we simply cannot ignore it and pretend it doesn’t exist. What the HELL am I going on about? Fruity paste? I gotta tell you. Where was I? Oh, yes, fruity paste. Fruity Paste – that’s the title of my next novel – a story of sexual awakening in 1874 Stuttgart. I stayed at the partay for close to three hours, then took my leave. I almost left my leave there, but thank goodness I remembered my leave and took it. Whew. I then came home. Once ensconced in the home environment I began to feel guilty about not having jogged on the first day of the New Year, so I put on my jogging attire and did the long jog. My knee was feeling much better, and I just felt like doing it and by gum and by golly and buy bonds, do it I did. I must say it’s a little creepy running on Moorpark after dark. There is little illumination for the entirety of my route, which really surprised me. And I really didn’t love running under the pitch black freeway underpass, and I put on considerable speed under there both going and coming. I actually did a fairly brisk jog, and my knee didn’t really bother me at all, so that was good. Then I made myself an English Muffin. I’d been me all day, so being an English Muffin was a nice change of pace. I then did more cleanup on the pages I’d written, plus I’d thought of several additions whilst jogging, and I put a couple of those in and saved the rest for this morning’s writing. By the time I was finished I’d done eight pages, a good day’s work. I then sat on my couch like so much fish.
Last night, I finished watching an absolutely delightful motion picture I’d TIVOd entitled Cluny Brown, the last film directed by Ernst Lubitsch. It was a slight but very funny comedy with some wonderful dialogue and a whole slew of the famous Lubitsch touches. I’ve never seen Charles Boyer more charming or as funny as he was in this film. Jennifer Jones did a fine job as the titular Cluny Brown, and the supporting cast was great and included a very young Peter Lawford, Richard Haydn, and Una O’Connor, who was absolutely hilarious without, I think, uttering one word of dialogue. I then watched an episode of Mannix – poorly written, but fun guest stars including Nancy Kovak, Robert Reed, and Lloyd Bochner. One of the things I’ve disliked about so much of the second half of season two is that everything after show twelve has tracked music and no original scores like the first half of the season. Interestingly, the transfers have improved as the episodes progress.
Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below, because I am pondering all there is to ponder about fruity paste and the fact that I’ve had a novel beginning to the year, if you get my meaning and I know you do.
Today, I shall endeavor to write at least three to five new pages, as well as do the other additions I thought of, which shouldn’t take too long. I then may or may not meet with David Wechter, depending on how he’s feeling. I’m hoping we can meet, but if he’s not up to it, I guess we’ll reschedule for the weekend. Otherwise, the only other plan I have is to package and ship CDs should they arrive this afternoon. I’m really hoping they do. If not, they’ll be here on Monday for sure, but I’d much rather get them on their merry way today.
The weekend is clear, and I may try to see a movie or two (have to check and see if anything’s screening at the DGA), and, of course, I’ll write each day. I’ll also have to incorporate all the latest Wechter Nudie changes into our master script – he’s almost finished – he has two or three little scenes left.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, do the long jog, write new pages, read David’s new pages, hopefully meet with David, and hopefully package and ship a whole plethora of CDs. Today’s topic of discussion: It’s Friday – what is currently in your CD player and your DVD/video player? I’ll start – CD, I’ve been listening to some Frederic Talgorn film scores. He’s quite wonderful, and I’ve been enjoying the music a lot. DVD, next up some of the Studio One live dramas that have just come out in a nice box set, and also The Deadly Bees. Your turn. Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst we all contemplate our various and sundried fruity pastes and while I continue on with the novel beginning to the New Year.