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August 10, 2010:

THE CHALICE FROM THE PALACE HAS THE PELLET WITH THE POISON BUT THE FLAGON WITH THE DRAGON HAS THE BREW THAT IS TRUE

Bruce Kimmel Photograph bk's notes

Well, dear readers, did you know, for example, that the chalice from the palace has the pellet with the poison but the flagon with the dragon has the brew that is true? Or is it the vessel with the pestle that has the pellet with the poison? These are the questions that are roaming around the windmills of my rather exhausted mind. Yes, exhausted and it’s just Tuesday, but that is because yesterday I had to be up at six to announce the latest Kritzerland title, Saint Joan – hence, I only had five hours of sleep and a Jew of my age and height does not do that well on five hours sleep. I did indeed get up at six, announced everywhere there was to announce, printed out the first orders that came in during the first two hours, and then I went back to bed and sort of slept for another couple of hours. At ten, the helper arrived to help, which is what a helper does. We actually had quite a few packages to ship, including one somewhat complicated order. But everything got boxed and stamped and then we took all that over to the postal office. After that, we went to Staples, where we Xeroxed sheet music for our Kritzerland at the Gardenia cast. Then I had to take care of some banking, after which I overnighted music to Miss Pam Myers. The helper then left me to my own devices, such as my iPhone and my computer, two very handy devices indeed. I did work on the computer and spoke on my iPhone and went to Hugo’s for a salad and pasta papa. Then I had to get the five bonus tracks for our next release to the mastering guy, which I did via our iDisk. We did some EQ work on one Saint Joan track that got a little screwy at some point – now it’s perfect. Then I listened to our new master, which, as they say in Oklahoma, has gone about as fer as it can go, sound-wise. When the original master tapes have limitations then any CD release will reflect them. But, it sounds better than the previous release and you do get about twenty-two minutes of bonus material that is really fun. I then did a mile and a half jog and by that time it was already seven. So, I finally sat on my couch like so much fish.

Last night, I watched another two episodes of Dragnet, and I’ve just about had it – not nearly enough location stuff that’s interesting. Happily, another season of Adam 12 will be here today. I then watched a motion picture on Blu and Ray entitled Fantastic Planet (the US title – the real title is La Planete Sauvage). I’d never seen the film before and I must say it’s wildly imaginative and supremely strange. Directed by Rene Laloux, the animated imagery is pretty amazing, the story is interesting and somewhat hard to follow at first, but I really enjoyed it quite a bit. Interestingly, the film was co-written with Roland Topor, the man who wrote the novel on which Polanski’s The Tenant is based – so that might give you an idea of just how odd this film is at times. The transfer is spectacular – it’s a region B blu-ray from the Eureka Masters of Cinema series – a great job. There are a lot of extras to watch, which I intend to, including several of Laloux’s early animated shorts.

After that, I sorted through all the music and realized that I gave one gal far too much to sing, so I’m redistributing one or two of her songs. So, everything is now ready to hand over to the singers and our MD, Shelly Markham. I’ve been told that people have been calling the club and making reservations, so that’s good. And I’ve already heard from two singers who want to take part in one of the upcoming shows, so that’s good, too.

Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below because I really must figure out if the chalice from the palace has the pellet with the poison or the brew that is true or I shall not sleep one or even two whits.

Today, Mr. Shelly Markham is coming over and we’re going to breakfast and then go through all the music. I’ve already made him a CD of all the tracks because he has to emulate those arrangements. On a couple of songs where I didn’t have the actual chart we used, he’ll have to transpose keys. After we’re done, I don’t have much else planned and I hope I can keep it that way. Oh, I have some errands and whatnot to attend to, but nothing heavy.

Tomorrow I have a lunch meeting, and I think one of our singers will be coming over to gather up her music. And the rest of the week is filled with a few meetings, a few meals, beginning a new set of liner notes, and doing a little writing on the screenplay.

Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, do some sort of jog, have some sort of breakfast meeting, do some sort of errands and whatnot, and then relax. Today’s topic of discussion: It’s movie quote day – quote some of your all-time favorite comic bon mots from some of your all-time favorite films. Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, and, of course, I’ve already quoted one of my favorite comic bon mots – the chalice from the palace has the pellet with the poison (or is the the vessel with the pestle), and the flagon with the dragon has the brew that is true (or is the brew that is true in the chalice from the palace?

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