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November 17, 2009:

THE MUSIC OF THE NIGHT

Bruce Kimmel Photograph bk's notes

Well, dear readers, I am quite exhausted from all the packing and shipping and lifting and lugging. It was non-stop from nine-thirty in the morning until four in the afternoon. It took about two hours to get all the Kritzerland orders done, and I also did a couple of the dealer orders, then drove all those to the loading dock of the postal office. I then did some banking, and then had some bacon and eggs whilst addressing UPS forms for my big online dealer order. I came home and prepared all those huge boxes then lugged them to the car – do you know how hard it is to write notes when one is listening to a CD with vocals on it – especially when those vocals are soul music and faux country-and-western songs? I’m playing the soundtracks to In The Heat Of The Night/They Call Me Mr. Tibbs – the music is very good Quincy Jones, but these songs make me want to become a cereal killer – why if I had a box of Wheaties here it would be toast. Of course, how can Wheaties be toast – only toast can be toast. And if these songs weren’t bad enough, we just had some dialogue. I really think I must turn this music off – now we’re having some sort of weird chase music and it’s making me want to get up and chase someone or something. I wish you could hear this music, dear readers, and then you would understand why this music of the night is causing my brain to fragment into shards of musical hysteria. Shards Of Musical Hysteria – that’s the title of my next novel. Where the HELL was I? Oh, yes, lugging boxes to the car, which I then drove to the UPS Store. I then lugged them into the UPS Store, and also picked up some mail and a couple of packages – one of which was one of the errant and truant packages I’ve been waiting for. All RIGHT – I must go shut this music off right now. Ahhhhhh, much better. I can think again. At last my arm is complete again. I’m wild again, beguiled again, a simpering, whimpering child again. You see what the music of the night has done to me? It has caused me to lose my train and boat and plane of thought. Anyway, when I got home I then packaged up some big orders, which took another two hours. I also had some potential good news that the final approvals may be forthcoming on the Holy Grail release – I’m praying it’s true, so send all your best excellent vibes and xylophones for those final approvals. I then finally sat on my couch like so much fish.

Last night, I watched a couple of episodes of Zorro on DVD. I loved Zorro when I was a wee sprig of a twig of a tad of a lad of a youth. And watching it in these beautiful transfers I can see why – it’s exciting, thrilling adventure, with a dashing hero in a mask and cape and all in black. Guy Williams could not have been bettered in the title role – he’s simply everything you’d want in a hero. And the supporting players are perfectly chosen. I’m looking forward to the rest of the episodes. I then watched a motion picture on Blu and Ray entitled A Bug’s Life. This has always been my least favorite of the Pixar’s – I remember finding it quite a let-down after Toy Story, mostly because there were too many characters and not strong enough leading characters. The storytelling just isn’t as strong as subsequent Pixar films. All that said, this Blu-Ray is so ravishingly beautiful that I sort of got lost in the film and quite enjoyed some of it, especially the voicing of the villain by Kevin Spacey. Randy Newman’s score works hard but isn’t up with his best. But the image and the animation is really strong and it just blew me away. After it blew me away I found myself on the floor. I hate when that happens. After the film, I started another, but turned it off and instead wrote my notes for the long musical. I then listened to some CDs, and you know the result of the one I was listening to as I began writing these here notes.

Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below because my head is still swimming from that wacko music of the night.

One of the packages that arrived yesterday contained a DVD from Spain of one of my favorite French films from France, Sundays and Cybele. What is interesting is that the only legit place you can get this French film from France on DVD is Spain, where it has been properly licensed from its rights’ holder, Columbia. I had a home-grown DVD made off a particularly awful letterboxed VHS tape that was released in the 1980s. I’d also recently gotten a DVD-R off a 16mm scope print that wasn’t much better. So, when I saw this was available as a region 2 import I snapped it up. And am I glad I did – it’s an anamorphic transfer and it looks terrific upscaled. I’ll be watching it over the next few nights and will give you a full report when I’m finished.

Today, I think I have to go to the post office after doing some sort of jog. Thankfully, it’s just one package and one I have to stand in line for. I’m praying there’s not a long line. After that, I may go to Hugo’s or Hamburger Hamlet, depending on my mood.

Tomorrow has turned into a busy little day, with a two-hour lunch meeting with the co-writer of the long musical, to go over all the notes, from me and everyone else, and then a screening of The Informant. I’m looking forward to it. I’ll bring Mr. Hamlisch a Bananas CD, since he probably doesn’t even know it’s out.

Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, do some sort of jog, I must ship an overseas package, I must go to Hugo’s or the Hamlet, and then I must get some rest. Today’s topic of discussion: What was the first piece of classical music you remember hearing? Did you like it? Did it lead you to other classical works? And who performed on the recording? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I try to clear my head of the wacko music of the night.

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