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August 26, 2010:

WILTED LETTUCE

Bruce Kimmel Photograph bk's notes

Well, dear readers, I’ve just about had it with this grotesque heat wave. Yes, you heard it here, dear readers, I, BK, have just about had it with this grotesque heat wave. It must have been 105-degrees yesterday, and I mean from like ten o’clock to eight at night. Then it cooled down to about ninety-five. It’s like a sauna bath in the City of Studio and I really don’t like it. So, hopefully it will pass sooner than later because everyone who is out in the heat looks and feels like wilted lettuce. Wilted Lettuce – that’s the title of my next novel, a story of lettuce run amok. Then the sequel will be about lettuce scorned and will be called Jilted Lettuce. In any case, it’s too darn hot and we’re havin’ a heat wave and it’s like steam heat and it gives me fever and I need it to be cool, boy, real cool. Otherwise, yesterday was a day. I had another good night’s sleep, then a local dealer came by to pick up a few CDs and give me a few new releases. Then I answered e-mails and did a little organizing, then I went and had some matzo brei and toast. After that, it was some errands and whatnot and then some whatnot and errands. I’ve been putting off writing liner notes and now I am behind and have to do two sets at one time. Blechhh – but I’ve got all the material gathered and shall start tomorrow. I then joined Mr. David Wechter and his pal Briana for a little viewing party. That was a lot of fun and involves something that will most likely be Kritzerland’s first foray into Blu and Ray. After that, we all went to Marie Callendar’s and had pie. I, of course, had coconut cream pie and it was quite yummilicious and a pretty small slice. I just found that a slice of Marie’s coconut cream pie isn’t too bad calorie-wise, about 350, which really surprised me. After that, I came home to a lot of e-mails, which I responded to. Whilst driving around in the motor car today, I listened to the first-pass mixes of the next Kritzerland show reissue, which will have the original album mix released for the first time and a brand new mix by the likes of me. The first-passes sound great, and I just have to futz with them a little. I also got a few packages today, so that was nice. After all that, I finally sat on my couch like so much fish.

Last night, I watched a motion picture on DVD entitled The Last Command, a silent film with silence directed by Mr. Josef von Sternberg, and starring Mr. Emil Janning and a very young Mr. William Powell. I don’t think it’s much of a secret how brilliant I find Mr. von Sternberg – in fact, he is one of my all-time favorite filmmakers and I adore almost everything he’s made, but especially the Dietrich films and of those especially Blonde Venus and Morocco. I’d only ever seen one of his silent movies, The Docks of New York, which I loved. The Last Command is a wonderful film with a great performance by Janning. It’s about a man who was the supreme commanding general in Russia and a cousin to the Czar, who is now living in Hollywood, working as an extra. William Powell is a Russian director who, while in Russia, was a revolutionary who has had a run-in with Janning. He hires Janning to be in the film he’s making. The majority of the movie is a flashback to Janning’s time in Russia – the film is bookended with the Hollywood sequences. It’s just a wonderfully done film, with beautiful direction by von Sternberg, and gorgeous photography by Bert Glennon. There is a choice of scores – I chose the Alloy Orchestra one and it was fine – at least it made an attempt to be a real film score. I’ll give a listen to the Robert Israel piano score, but I can’t imagine it will be as good. I’m looking forward to the other films in the set, which is from Criterion. The transfer is acceptable and some of it looks quite nice, while some of it is in not as good shape, but the film is over seventy years old.

After that, I had to deal with a very annoying telephonic call, but after my initial bad reaction, I just set to work to put a bandage on everything – and I did. It has to do with our first Gardenia show and rehearsal on Monday – it’s all fine now, but I was not happy about what happened and will probably not choose to work with one person again (not a performer). I was so irked by having to jump through hoops to make everything right, that I did a brisk jog over to Jerry’s and had some chicken tenders, which are quite good there. Then I briskly walked home.

Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below because I feel like Wilted Lettuce and I need my beauty sleep because I must be alert and with-it today.

Today, I must be alert and with-it for I will be finessing mixes for several hours, and trying to find some fun bonus material, too. I also have to jog, do errands and whatnot, and then I’m having dinner with my old pal Debbie Tilton, who I haven’t seen since the launch party for the Stages CD. It will be fun to catch up.

Tomorrow, I haven’t a clew as to what’s happening, but whatever is happening will be happening and I will be happening right alongside whatever happenings happen. Saturday I’ll be picking up a Fed Ex package and getting it to our Monday rehearsal pianist. Otherwise, I’m hoping it’s a light weekend.

Next week, of course will be really busy, with rehearsals, our first Gardenia show, writing, prepping new releases, and meetings and meals.

Let’s all put on our pointy party hats and our colored tights and pantaloons, let’s all break out the cheese slices and the ham chunks, let’s all dance the Hora and the Lambada (The Forbidden Dance) for today we celebrate two count them two birthdays. Our first birthday boy is our very own beloved Jrand. So, let’s give a big haineshisway.com birthday cheer to our very own beloved Jrand. On the count of three: One, two, three – A BIG HAINESHISWAY.COM BIRTHDAY CHEER TO OUR VERY OWN BELOVED JRAND!!! Our next birthday boy is the very errant and truant dear reader Jose, who is on hiatus from this here site and very much missed – whether he’ll return or not is anyone’s guess, but we still can give him a big haineshisway.com birthday cheer. On the count of three: One, two, three – A BIG HAINESHISWAY.COM BIRTHDAY CHEER TO DEAR READER JOSE!!!

Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, do a jog, finesse mixes, do errands and whatnot, and then sup. Today’s topic of discussion: Who are your all-time favorite filmmakers and what single film is your favorite for each of them? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, as this Wilted Lettuce hits the road to dreamland.

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