Well, dear readers, ’twas the night before the night before Christmas and all through the house, not a creature was stirring or wearing a blouse. Yes, we had some topless creatures here and it was all very distingue. I feel that it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas and that’s good because frankly we need a little Christmas right this very minute. The egg nog is roasting on an open fire and all is well in the very chilly City of Studio. We had quite a chilly and windy yesterday, I must say, and I just did. Actually, it was quite a lovely day yesterday. I got up a little earlier than planned, and realized it was way too windy and chilly to jog. So, I printed out some orders, answered some e-mails, and then packed up a few orders, which I then took to the post office. I lucked out and got a space just as I pulled in. I dropped the packages in the drop box and off I went to have a sandwich and onion rings, not necessarily in that order. After that, I came home and began cleaning the living room. I’m going room by room – the living room didn’t have much to clean, but I had to move about five boxes o’ CDs out of there and to the garage. So, now the living room looks like a living room. I then did some errands and whatnot, but I’m really trying not to drive until after Christmas, because the drivers of Studio City have lost whatever little sanity they were clinging to. I picked up a couple of packages, and then had a telephonic call with the co-author of the long musical, to give him my notes on his rewrite of the second five scenes of act one. That went quickly, and then I did some organizing of the CD closet. I then spent about ninety minutes typing up all the scribbled notes I’ve been taking for my new book. After that, I sat on my couch like so much fish and ate two of dear reader Laura’s yummilicous oatmeal and cranberry cookies.
Yesterday, I watched a motion picture on Blu and Ray entitled Iron Monkey. I had never seen this film before, but I gather it’s considered a classic of Hong Kong filmmaking. And after viewing it, I’d have to concur. It’s a wildly entertaining film, a sort of Hong Kong Robin Hood slash Saturday matinee serial, with some truly extraordinary fight sequences that literally take your breath away. The final duel was so excitingly done, that I sat there like a little kid and when the villain got his I cheered. The cast could not be better, and it all runs a brisk eighty-five minutes. The film has everything – action, humor, great characters, and great pacing. I’m going to watch it again very soon. The transfer seems fine, but I have no point of reference. I chose to watch it in Cantonese with English subtitles rather than the Miramax American dub, which I’m sure is horrible. Highly recommended by the likes of me.
After the movie, I toddled off to Gelson’s to do the shopping for the Christmas Eve Do. There was a lot to buy but I got it all done in about forty minutes, then came home and put it all away. I got a little tiny thing of potato salad and Chinese chicken salad to snack on, whilst I watched a little of the HD Net hi-def broadcast of Blue Velvet, which looked pretty good.
I listened to some CDs (happily, I’m almost all caught up), did some typing, and then it was time to start writing these here notes. Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below because ’twas the night before the night before Christmas and there are all these topless creatures running amok and being very randy. In fact, they’re currently telling the story of The Randy Vicar and the Swizzle Stick.
Today’s early lunch with Mr. Jason Graae had to be pushed to next week. That’s better for me, actually. So today I shall clean the dining room – since that’s where we’ve been doing all the Kritzerland addressing and shipping, there’s a lot to put away until after the partay. I’ll probably move it all very carefully to the garage, then bring it back on Friday. Then all that will be left is to clean the den, which will just consist of putting CDs and DVDs and Blu-Rays away – that shouldn’t take too long.
Tomorrow, of course, I will start cooking as soon as I get up, and that will last all the livelong day right up until the Do begins at six. I have no idea how many people are coming, but two dear readers will be there – both surprises – dear reader Noel is in town, and dear reader singingnymph, so that will be lots of fun.
Christmas day I’ll be going to Cissy Wechter’s annual huge partay, and the food there is always amazingly amazing. The weekend is not free for the likes of me – I have to get the booklets signed on Saturday (although that’s my only chore that day) and then we’re addressing packages on Sunday, which will probably take about three hours, as someone new is helping and I have to teach how to do the postage and stuff and I’m sure the process will just move a little slower than usual.
Why don’t we all put on our pointy party hats and our colored tights and pantaloons, why don’t we all break out the cheese slices and the ham chunks, why don’t we dance the Hora and the samba, for today is the birthday of occasional dear reader William F. Orr. So, let’s give a big haineshisway.com birthday cheer to occasional dear reader William F. Orr. On the count of three: One, two, three – A BIG HAINESHISWAY.COM BIRTHDAY CHEER TO OCCASIONAL DEAR READER WILLIAM F. ORR!!!
And while we’re at it, a very happy birthday to my brother Joel.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, jog if it’s not too chilly, clean, organize and then relax as much as possible. Today’s topic of discussion: It’s Ask BK Day, the day in which you get to ask me or any dear reader any old question you like and we get to give any old answer we like. So, let’s have loads of lovely questions and loads of lovely answers, shall we, whilst we inch ever closer to a little day I like to call Christmas.