Well, dear readers, I am ready for bed and yet bed is not ready for me as bed knows I must sit here and write these here notes. It was a very long day and I never stopped doing stuff until about 8:45 in the evening. I could use a nice massage right about now or even left about now. I need some kneading. I’m pleading for kneading and yet my pleas are falling on deaf ears. Damn them, damn them all to hell. I suppose I shall sit here with my sore back and my still-sore knee (it’s not bad, but still is a little tender) and my aching muscles and I shall write these here notes without receiving a massage. Hardly fair, but what can you do? I basically need a full-time masseuse on call. And she needs to be a volunteer who will do it for the sheer joy of kneading a Jew. Kneading A Jew – that’s the title of my next novel, a story of love and redemption in Azusa. What the HELL am I talking about. Speaking of love and redemption in Azusa (and who wasn’t), yesterday was a day that kept on going, like the Eveready Bunny. I got up early and Handyman Doug arrived at nine to begin his very long day. It was too chilly out to do the long jog, so instead I went through more boxes, threw out more crap, and then wrote three pages. By that time, it had warmed up, so I did an errand, and then did the long jog. After that, I wrote an additional five pages, and finished the chapter I was on and wrote the first line of the new chapter. I looked through more boxes, and more boxes, then picked up some packages, then realized I was going to have to hire a trash hauler because there were about a hundred boxes, some empty, some filled with discarded papers and stuff. I Googled and the first person I called kept telling me they’d call back – I called three times and each time they were going to call back in ten minutes. I gave up and called someone else. He gave me his basic charge and I gave him the go-ahead. He came by with his small truck, took one look at the piles of stuff, and upped his charge and said he’d have to get his large truck. I had no choice but to agree, which I did. I then was starving, but had no food in the house and no time to go out for something, so I ate an English muffin, had some fruit snacks, and a biscotti. I didn’t want any of it, but at least it put some food in my tummy. Handyman Doug finished the garage project around six, and I must say he did a fantastic job – the garage is now completely manageable and if I felt like it I could park my car in there with plenty of room to spare. Every box is neatly put away and all the Kritzerland stock is perfectly in order, and my work table is now in a different and better spot – it looks great. I then had him come in the house and completely clean out the little storage space above my bedroom closet. We then put a bunch of books up there, stuff I’d found in the garage and wanted accessible. Everything fit perfectly, again with room to spare, so I can now put the overflow up there, book-wise. Then Mr. Trash Hauler came back with the big truck and hauled away all the trash, but not before he realized I was in the business and told me all about his seven screenplays. I then had to hie myself to Panera for a meeting with Mr. Sean McDermott. I got there, ordered a sandwich, and then we had a very productive meeting and got a lot done. The sandwich was awful and a total waste of calories. I then came home, was still hungry, so made myself two eggs and an English muffin – that was the best food I had all day. I then finally sat on my couch like so much fish – at nine o’clock.
Last night, I watched the first episode of season three of The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour. For some reason, they’ve released the best of season three first. There are long introductions to each show, which I think must have been taped years ago for a video release or for TV showings. I don’t like them and will skip them from now on. The episode on view was the uncensored version, which had a whole long number excised when it was originally shown. The show was wonderful – a perfect variety show. Rosie should have watched it and learned from it, but then one fears Rosie is above learning. The guests were Mama Cass Elliot, Harry Belafonte, and Pat Paulsen. First of all, the Smothers Brothers themselves are just so wonderful and hilarious – I just laugh out loud every time I watch them. Dick is a perfect straight man and Tom is brilliant in his facial reactions and banter – classic comedy that never dates and never feels old. The kind of comedy that NO one today knows how to do. The excised number with Belafonte was way too long (about twelve minutes) and involved a lot of footage from the 1968 Democratic National Convention. Pat Paulsen’s monolog (he was running for President) was really amusing, and there was a Bonanza sketch that was pretty funny and which featured a cameo by Rosie Grier. I’m looking forward to watching more episodes over the weekend.
Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below because I need to be kneaded and yet no one is kneading me – can’t anyone be kneading a Jew?
Today I’m hoping will be a little less frenzied than yesterday. I’ll get up early, do the long jog, and then write, hopefully three to five pages, although if I’m into it, I could do more. I’ll then have to finish act two of the long script, and then I have a meeting in the Dale of Glen with the composer/lyricist – they’ll play me some new songs that aren’t on their demo. Then I’ll come home and I will eat something good, because I haven’t been all that thrilled with the last couple of days’ meal choices.
Tomorrow, I’ll write and then sup with the Jones’s. Sunday, I’ll write, meet with the author of the long script to see if we want to work together, and then meet with Miss Alet Taylor to get going on her show. Next week is already filling up like crazy.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, do the long jog, write, do errands and whatnot, hear songs, then eat something fun. Today’s topic of discussion: It’s Friday – what is currently in your CD player and your DVD/video player? I’ll start – CD, a George Shearing compilation, and two Frederic Talgorn film scores – Asterix and Robotjox. DVD, Smothers Brothers, and the film Foreign Intrigue – those who’ve read Benjamin Kritzer know what an important part that film played in my young childhood. Those who haven’t read Benjamin Kritzer should be hoisted on their own petard, if you get my meaning. Your turn. Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, and I do hope that soon someone will be kneading a Jew.