Well, dear readers, in one of life’s funny turnarounds I thought yesterday was going to be a very quiet, relaxing day, and yet, in one of life’s funny turnarounds it turned out to be a very busy day with going and doing and doing and going. I did, I went, I went, I did, and then the day was done. I got up early, I did, I went, and then I had to catch up on Kritzerland business and ship several overseas orders along with about twenty other orders that had accumulated. I then had a spot of lunch, then found out that the overnight UPS package I’d sent had an incorrect address entered by the person at the UPS Store. And the only way to correct it was to have that person call UPS because UPS won’t talk to anyone but the actual shipper – and her I thought since I paid for the package that I was the actual shipper. Funny that. She finally did talk to UPS and they scheduled the package to be delivered this morning – to the same incorrect address! What is wrong with these people? The person to whom the package is going spent twenty minutes on the phone with UPS and finally got them to change the address (it’s against regulations, said they – I would have thought that having the correct address would be a good thing). That actually took up way too much of my time. Then there were a few other little annoyances to deal with, but it was, in fact, a quite beautiful day out, so nothing really got on my nerves too too much. I had many e-mails to answer and some work to do on the computer, and then at around six-thirty I did a two-and-a-half mile jog, which felt great. I then finally sat on my couch like so much fish.
Last night, I watched a motion picture on DVD entitled Hot Millions, one of those Warner Archive titles. I’d always wanted to see the film because of its stars, Peter Ustinov and Maggie Smith. And both stars shine brightly in a film that doesn’t quite work as it should. A lot of that, for me, can be put on the doorstep of director Eric Till, who has absolutely no visual or dramatic sense. The writing (by Ira Wallach and Ustinov) had its moments, but the pacing is deadly and it’s just a soufflé that doesn’t quite rise. I then watched a motion picture on Blu and Ray entitled The Natural, starring Mr. Robert Redford. I saw the film when it came out, and although I liked it, I thought the grandstanding direction of the big moments was irritating. Watching it for the first time since then I still felt that way. If it had only been the climactic one that would have been fine, but it happens at least twice before that and it’s just too much. But the film plays very well all these years later, and with a real movie star and great actor like Redford at the heart of the film, you forgive the small things that don’t quite work. And the supporting cast is aces – Barbara Hershey, Kim Basinger, Wilfred Brimley, Richard Farnsworth, Robert Proskey, Robert Duvall, Darren McGavin, Glenn Close – all turn in great work. The score by Randy Newman is just terrific, too. The transfer is perfect and looks exactly as it should. What the wags will have to say about it is irrelevant – you get the real skinny and even the real fat here at haineshisway.com.
Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below because I have to go and do and do and go.
Today, will be more going and doing and doing and going. I have a lunch meeting (I will eat very lightly) and then I have a dinner with Mr. Barry Pearl and his ever-lovin’ Cindy, and then we’re all seeing a play by Sam Bobrick at the Falcon Theater.
Tomorrow, at some point I’ll be going to Monsterpalooza to say hey to Mr. Bert I. Gordon and a few other people I know. Sunday we’ll be addressing packages (Little Shop CDs arrive on Wednesday).
Next week I’ve kept pretty open – just a couple of meals planned but nothing major, and I’m going to try and keep it that way.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, do a jog, have a lunch meeting, do errands and whatnot, dine, and then see a play. Today’s topic of discussion: It’s Friday – what is currently in your CD player and your DVD/video player? I’ll start – CD, various upcoming Kritzerland projects. Blu-Ray, next up the Lord Of The Rings trilogy. Your turn. Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I have some more going and doing and doing and going.