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August 29, 2009:

THE MYSTERY OF THE MISSING CHOCOLATE CHIP ICE CREAM

Bruce Kimmel Photograph bk's notes

Well, dear readers, here I am, sitting on an aeroplane, high in the sky on my way back to LA. As those who read the posts know, I got very little sleep on account of jack hammering and other construction noise that kept on going until after one in the morning. Very irritating, but what can you do? I got up at 4:15 and was on my way to the Newark airport by 4:45. It was a very quick drive, and I got through security in record time. I then relaxed until we boarded. I’d upgraded to first class using mileage, so I didn’t have to worry as I normally do about getting on the plane quickly. Unfortunately, there was a couple with a young child in the bulkhead seats, and, as per usual with entitled parenting, the child was a mewling, whining, spoiled little brat. Of course, we don’t blame the child at all. Because the drizzle had caused a little traffic delay for our take-off, we left about fifteen minutes late, although we were told we’d still be arriving on time in LA. Of course, I am seated in back of the only creep in first class who just had to put his seat back as far as it would possibly go, which makes working on Ye Olde Laptop not quite as easy as it would be if the creep’s seat weren’t ALL the way back. I made a rude comment, but Mr. Porcupine Peckerwood doesn’t care one or even two whits. Seated next to Mr. Porcupine Peckerwood is Mr. Brian De Palma. If he were seated next to me I would have told him I was there at the famous dual casting session for Star Wars and Carrie. But instead, Mr. De Palma is sitting next to Mr. Porcupine Peckerwood, who was pestering him about some film he made. Mr. De Palma wasn’t having it and spoke tersely and then went back to his Kindle. Right after takeoff, Mr. Entitled Dad went into the bathroom and did not emerge for twenty minutes. It was most annoying to others who were waiting to go. And that’s been the trip thus far. I’m looking forward to being home and catching up on things, and opening several packages that have arrived. I have a ton of telephonic calls to return, many e-mails to print, several things to download, and some work to do. But mostly I am looking forward to sitting on my couch like so much fish.

I’ve eaten the paper omelet and meatstuffs. I’ve written the first draft of the liner notes for the Kritzerland release being announced mid-week, so that’s done and out of the way. We’re still ninety minutes from our landing, but I’m almost out of battery juice now, so I suppose I’ll shut off Ye Olde Laptop and maybe even try to close Ye Olde Eyes and seen if I can snooze.

And he’s back, and to prove it, he’s here. I’ll say it again – this was one of the most pleasant New York jaunts I’ve ever had. I saw so many fun people and did fun things and ate fun meals and the whole thing was just, well, fun. My flight got in on time, I was home thirty minutes later (amazingly little traffic), unpacked, answered e-mails, returned a couple of pressing telephonic calls, packaged up about ten orders, took them to the mail place and picked up four hundred more shipping boxes, plus one small amazon box. I did some errands and whatnot, ate a Subway sandwich, and finally sat on my couch like so much fish.

Yesterday, I watched two more episodes of Lost, Season Five – one of them went straight to Alias-land, but they were both good episodes. It is funny when they think they’re trying to “surprise” you by having a character in shadow or with a hood over the back of their head – and it’s always so easy to tell who it is and it’s never a surprise. Five more episodes to go, and I’ll be all caught up, Lost-wise.

After that, I watched six count them six episodes of Adam-12. I must say, I really do enjoy this show – no, it’s not art, but I find it very entertaining and the episodes fly by. This particular season is interesting in terms of its location work – instead of the usual Valley locations, a lot of these first six episodes were shot over the hill in West Hollywood. There are some great views of Santa Monica Blvd. and Robertson (eye-opening as regards how little there was back in 1970), Melrose, and Hancock Park. There was one great shot on Yucca near Vine, too. And there were a handful of Valley streets, and I’m hoping disc two will provide more of the latter. I was very happy to see my muse Margaret’s daddy, Dave Willock, in an episode, and a VERY young Jodie Foster, who looks like she’s around five, makes an appearance.

Then I needed something sweet, so I went to Gelson’s because I had a craving for chocolate chip ice cream. And guess what? I could find none. None, do you hear me? Not one carton of chocolate chip ice cream was to be found. Has chocolate chip ice cream, once one of the most popular flavors and a staple of every ice cream maker, suddenly passé? They had MINT chocolate chip, but no regular chocolate chip. I find that very odd and quite a mystery. The Mystery Of The Missing Chocolate Chip Ice Cream – that’s the title of my next novel. Seriously, does anyone have the skinny and/or fat on this revoltin’ development?

Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below because I must ponder the mystery of the missing chocolate chip ice cream – a Hercule Poirot mystery.

Today, she of the Evil Eye will be here both bright and early and early and bright. I shall try to do some sort of jog before it gets too hot, and then I have a breakfast meeting with the co-author of the long musical. It should be a fascinating meeting on many levels. After that, I’ll probably start addressing packages and try to get at least a third of them done (this release has had heavier than usual orders from the Kritzerland site). Then I have to send off my liner notes for the release we’re announcing next week, and then I’ll be able to relax for the rest of the day. My intention is to finish season five of Lost.

Tomorrow, a pretty Kritzerland assistant will join me to finish addressing the packages and put the postage on them. The new CD will be here on Tuesday morning and will ship out that very day. Other than that, the day is mine all mine.

Next week will be very busy, with many meetings, shipping CDs, as well as one really long casting day for the long musical.

Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, do some sort of jog (if possible), I must have a breakfast meeting, I must begin to address packages, and I must do something amusing for dinner. Today’s topic of discussion: What is the first flavor of ice cream you remember eating? Where was it, and when was it? What are your least favorite ice cream flavors, and what are your most favorite flavors? And what are the most weird and exotic flavors you’ve ever had? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst we try to solve the mystery of the missing chocolate chip ice cream.

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