Well, dear readers, today will hopefully be shipping books and bonus CD day, although I have had no confirmation from the pressing plant that the CDs will be here first thing this morning as promised, despite two e-mails and a telephonic call asking for confirmation. So, I’m just hoping they arrive as planned – if they don’t I’m afraid there will be hell toupee and they will be here at some point tomorrow if they’re not here in the morning, or else this pressing plant will lose my business. This has happened before, which is why I’m a little nervous when I don’t have responses to my queries. We got Little Shop late because they had a problem – the problem is that by the time they let me know it was too late for me to un-hire the helper and so I had to pay her for that day – we did other stuff so it was okay, but not the way I like to do business. In any case, I’ll know soon enough. Meanwhile, yesterday was one of those days that was really fun and really annoying. I was up at six in the morning to announce our new CD. Orders began coming in quickly, so that was good. I then went back to sleep and managed to get three more hours of shuteye. When I got up, I printed more orders, then had to get on the phone with Apple because something to do with Time Capsule and Time Machine was screwy – whenever Time Capsule begins a backup I get a little icon on my desktop – when the backup is done the icon goes away. Up until two days ago, that is. Two days ago, two things started happening – thing one was the icon appeared but did not go away when the backup was through. The next day, the icon was gone and never came back during the day’s backups. Then today the icon was back and staying there – very annoying. The first guy I talked to inadvertently cut me off. Then I got someone in the Philippines and I refused to talk to them – they got me a supervisor in the US and, of course, I had to explain the whole thing over again. He had me do two things, one of which finally worked. He said that sometimes when you do updates some things get wonky. Directly after that, I visited the Earth vs. the Spider thread at Film Score Monthly only to find that another label owner had posted that he was surprised I hadn’t called him because he had the bona fide session masters on this title and anything we used would not be nearly as good. His tone was condescending and off-putting and I took him on strongly. As was later revealed by the person who sent me the source we used, he’d made his copy directly from those very tapes, long before this person had weasled his way into taking possession of the composer’s materials (after the composer had passed away). I pointed out on the board that this guy had no idea who did what sort of transfers from Mr. Glasser’s tapes before he came into possession of them, and I asked for him to apologize for even suggesting that our release would somehow be of lesser quality. Of course, this person doesn’t have the human decency to apologize for his stupidity. Then the person who sent me the source for our release posted that it was indeed from the very same tapes that this guy now has and not only that they were transferred totally in the digital domain, hence not one iota of quality loss. I asked once again for this guy to show a shred of human decency and to admit his error and his reprehensible behavior – but, of course, he hasn’t and won’t. So, I just forwarded his post to the powers-that-be at MGM – needless to say, they were furious with him, and I’m hoping he’ll be getting a very strongly-worded e-mail from them. First of all, he admitted that what he’s got are not composer copies but the bona fide session masters – well, those are not the property of him, or Glasser, or the estate – those originals belong to the rights’ holders, in this case MGM. This guy is notorious for this sort of behavior, and, as someone else pointed out, is single-handedly responsible for a ton of music not being released. So, I think he will regret his stupidity – maybe not today, but let me tell you, he WILL regret it. It’s amazing to me when someone behaves idiotically, is called out on it, proven that they are incorrect that they just can’t do the right thing and say I’m sorry. Two simple little words. It’s shocking, actually.
After all that BS, BK went and did a two-mile jog. Then I took a shower and headed over the hill to meet dear reader Kevin at the Hollywood California Pizza Kitchen. It was very nice to meet him, and we had a lovelier than lovely time, talking about many things, although we didn’t speak of cabbages and kings. They have some new things on the menu, including several snack-sized dishes – I had the lettuce wedge and when they say snack-sized they mean it – it was so tiny that I actually ordered a second one. Then I came back home, did some work on the computer, and then went with the cousins to LaLas for a yummilicious dinner. I had the double chicken breast (smothered in garlic and sautéed onions) and a little salad. It was quite filling. After that, I came back home, answered some e-mails, printed out more orders, and had a short telephonic call. After that, I read a bit more of this truly dreadful “biography” of Allan Carr – riddled with errors, poorly written, and just smarmy. And what is on the cover of this book about Allan Carr? A photograph of John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John, which I found more than a little crass. I’ll have more to say when I finish it.
Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below whilst we all say a little prayer that the CDs show up so I can get these books on their way.
Today, I shall hopefully be shipping out books and bonus CDs and hopefully they’ll all be out of here by noon. I have to get up early and go to Staples to buy more padded envelopes, since I never had the chance to do so. Helper should be here by ten. I have written to someone else at the pressing plant so if there are any problems I’ll know about it before helper gets here. Once I’m through with that, then the rest of the day isn’t too too crazy. I have a few errands and whatnot to attend to and some packages to pick up. Tonight I think I’ll watch a motion picture or two.
Tomorrow at eleven I have what will be at least a two-hour meeting, but once that’s over the day is mine all mine. Thursday I’m keeping pretty open, as I like to relax the day before I fly. I have to make arrangements with David Wechter about when he’ll be picking me up, as I like to be at the airport a little early, and I think he doesn’t. But earlier is better for me and that’s what we’ll be doing.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, hopefully ship books and bonus CDs, I must do errands and whatnot, I must pick up packages, and I must watch motion pictures. Today’s topic of discussion: What is your most favorite piece of jewelry that you’ve ever owned – doesn’t matter if you don’t still have it – and both males and females can respond. Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, and don’t forget – say a little prayer for CDs to arrive on time.