Well, dear readers, this week has flown by, like a gazelle watching Lawrence of Arabia. In the coincidence department, I’m listening to a new recording of Lawrence of Arabia as I write these notes. Isn’t that a coincidence? Right now, as I type, I’m feeling like BK of Arabia, which, by the way (BTW, in Internet lingo) is a much better title than Lawrence of Arabia. But I must write these here notes in a hurry and get them posted early because I must be up early because I have an early morning appointment with our very own Teddy, who will hopefully take my unkempt hair and make it kempt again. I must say, yesterday was quite a nice little day. “Yesterday was quite a nice little day.” There. I said it. I was up until two in the morning because I could not fall asleep. I got up at nine-thirty, so it wasn’t too bad, sleep-wise. The helper came over at ten and boxed up a few orders and then we got the USPS on the phone and gave them a good wha’ fo’ because their service has been completely inept recently – losing package after package – in one instance, the package arrived sans its contents. The lady I spoke with was very nice and she filed an official complaint so that the local post office will be aware of what’s been happening and they will also know that the customer relations people are keeping a watch now. I have no idea if any of it means anything, but at least I got it off my chest. Just what if was doing on my chest is anyone’s guess, but I got it off my chest and that was a relief. We then took said packages to the postal office, after which we did a Costco run, only getting a few items. Then she took 700 boxes and a huge stack of invoices home with her. Before she left, she helped me do a Facebook event page for the next Gardenia show – and speaking of the next Gardenia show, we’re pleased as punch to welcome the great Susanne Blakeslee to our company of players. Susanne was in several Forbidden Broadway shows with our very own Mr. Jason Graae, as well as appearing in my musical revue, What If. Then I got confirmation that the sheet music I’m missing is on its way – a little later than planned, but hopefully the package will get here by Monday or Tuesday at the latest – then I can get music and CDs to everyone. Then it was time to go to my three o’clock meeting at LACC, which went well and was very quick. I drove back to the San Fernando Valley, picked up a couple of packages and no mail at the mail place, then went and had some Pasta Mama and a small Caesar salad at Hugo’s. After that, I came home and finally forced myself to write the liner notes that I’ve been procrastinating on – I got them done in an hour, then did a mile and a half jog. So, the packaging will be done by tomorrow and I should have a master to listen to by tomorrow, as well, and we’ll most likely be good to go for a Monday morning announcement. After that, I finally sat on my couch like so much BK of Arabia fish.
Last night, I finished watching Forbidden Planet on Blu and Ray. It’s been getting raves from the usual suspects and I wish I could join them but I can’t quite do so. From what I’ve heard, this is the same transfer used for the HD-DVD release of two years ago. I wish they’d done a new one with their new team, because I’ve been very pleased with most of Warners’ new transfers in the Blu and Ray medium. There’s nothing terribly wrong with the Blu-Ray of Forbidden Planet, but it just never achieves that Blu-Ray wow factor that one always hopes for, especially after seeing some truly great transfers of films from that era. Still, it looks better than the SE DVD. The film is still fun after all these years and I do love both Robby the Robot and Anne Francis, not necessarily in that order. Then I watched a DVD of a singer, the one I met with the other day. We’ll be discussing my opinion of it very soon, I think. After that, I put on the new recording of Lawrence of Arabia, looked through a very amusing rare book dealer’s catalog with the most outrageous prices I’ve ever seen. And this guy is now trying to create his own market for press kits – yes, press kits, you know, the kinds of press kits one has always been able to find for five or ten bucks, maybe twenty for the more interesting titles. His prices? Oh, over a thousand bucks. If anyone pays those prices we can consider them truly stupid. I may call the guy and tell him I have hundreds of those things here and he can have them for, say, a hundred bucks each – that way he makes a huge profit. Somehow I suspect he won’t do it. He’s also trying to create a real market for scripts – there have been a couple of scripts that have come up on eBay recently that I bid on – very reasonable, and was outbid on everyone by the same two people – I’m quite sure one is this guy and the other is Aladdin Books. They kind of ruin it for everyone, but let me tell you, knowing what they were doing, I made sure they paid, oh, yes, I made sure they paid a hefty price.
Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below because I must get a good night’s sleep so I can be bright-eyed and bushy-tailed for Teddy at ten.
Today, I shall see Teddy at ten and he shall, I’m sure, do his customary marvelously marvelous job and make me kempt. Then I’ll come home, do the jog, then a young gal is coming here to audition for the final slot in our show. I’m hoping she’s good enough but she really will have to deliver the goods. After that, I’ll go eat something fun.
Tomorrow, she of the Evil Eye will be coming, and I’ll be attending a book fair in Santa Monica – I always enjoy perusing the books and hanging with my dealer pals.
Sunday, we’ll prep our announcement, and then I’m seeing our very own Mr. Barry Pearl in a reading of a new musical and we’ll probably go out after to get something to eat. Next week is VERY busy, with our announcement, and I’m doing some radio/cable thing for the book, getting everyone their music and CDs, and having meetings and meals.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, get kempt by Teddy, jog, audition someone, eat, and then relax and watch a motion picture or three. Today’s topic of discussion: It’s Friday – what is currently in your CD player and your DVD/video player? I’ll start – CD, Lawrence of Arabia and various Kritzerland projects. Blu and Ray, probably The Gold Rush and Modern Times. Your turn. Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst BK of Arabia hits the road to dreamland.