Well, dear readers, I was all set to do the promised rant but the moment, I’m afraid, has passed. I hate when that happens. But I’m sure I’ll build up to it again and then it will be a rant for all seasons, I can assure you. In the meantime, I’m nursing a very sore elbow because I took a little header last night whilst going back to my motor car with some chicken soup from Jerry’s Deli. I was about a foot from the car door when I tripped over the curb that I park next to – normally I am REALLY good about keeping my balance but this was not one of those times and I went down to the pavement with a thud. I think my elbow hit the curb but miraculously the chicken soup container remained sealed, so I at least had the solace of my snack being saved. The elbow didn’t bleed (do elbows bleed?), but there is a rather nasty bruise there now and it hurts. Do Elbows Bleed? That’s the title of my next novel. I would say it was a senior moment, but anyone can trip and fall and look like an idiot. Mostly, it just made me really angry that I went down. Yesterday, I’m happy to say, was very cool – only 94 degrees rather than 109. There was even a little breeze. I got up early, the helper arrived at nine and she packaged up the orders that came in, then addressed packages for our new release. We also talked to Pitney Bowes and we’re going to try some new online postage stuff to see if it makes things simpler. I think Pitney Bowes and the USPS rather like us – they informed me that from the beginning of this year to now we’ve put $12,000 worth of postage into the machine. That’s just shocking to me, but happily that comes from the postage charge with each order. The helper left just before noon and I went and had a sandwich and no fries – my usual turkey sandwich. Then I picked up two little packages and one piece of not that important mail, then I wrote out checks for an obscene amount of money to various and sundried vendors. I then found out that the Sam Bobrick and Ron Clark meeting that I thought was happening on Tuesday was, in fact, happening yesterday. So, after making some telephonic calls and taking care of some other stuff, I moseyed on over to Mr. Bobrick’s Encino home. They read me the new draft of the show we’re working on and it was much better – tighter, more focused, and a lot funnier. So, things are proceeding nicely. I mentioned a few things that occurred to me and then I headed home. I did a mile and a half jog, and then found out my ABC News interview for the new book is airing – if anyone didn’t see the link in yesterday’s posts, here it is: http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/video/bruce-kimmels-life-showbiz-autobiography-show-business-jobs-actor-producer-music-director-11759812&tab=9482931. I was really petrified about how it would come off, but after watching it I was pretty okay with it and people seem to like it, so that’s very nice. I then finally sat on my couch like so much fish.
Last night, I watched a motion picture on DVD entitled Harlow. As some know, there were dueling Harlow biopics in 1965 – a very low-budget affair with Carol Lynley, and a big, opulent, colorful and splashy one from Paramount, starring Carroll Baker. The latter has just been released on DVD in a very nice scope and color transfer. Shockingly, I’d never seen either version. I know the one I watched is derided everywhere as a terrible film, but while intellectually I know it’s not very good, entertainment-wise, I really had fun watching it. First off, it’s written by John Michael Hayes, who was a terrific screenwriter (The Man Who Knew Too Much, Rear Window, To Catch a Thief, and many others), and I found some of the dialogue really clever and funny. I understand that others find it risible, but I think they go into watching it having that attitude. Miss Baker was probably not the best choice to play the role, although I can’t think of another actress back then who would have been better. Certainly she looks beautiful and I’ve always found her to be a very good actress. The supporting cast is fun, too – Raf Vallone, Angela Lansbury (great, as always), Martin Balsam, Red Buttons, Leslie Nielsen, Mike Connors, Peter Lawford and even the ubiquitous Fritz Feld. It’s glossy and sudsy, with competent direction by Gordon Douglas and lush photography by Joseph Ruttenberg. The film, despite being set in the early 1930s, feels firmly rooted in 1965 and that includes Neal Hefti’s hugely anachronistic score – I mean, there we are in 1930 and Leslie Nielsen turns on some romantic music (presumably on the radio, but his bachelor pad is right out of Hugh Hefnersville) we hear a light bossa nova cue and it’s just so out of place. But Hefti has written a beautiful main theme, so there’s that. As noted, the transfer is very nice.
After the movie, I was so hungry I was just going to get some chips or something, when I thought that chicken soup would be healthier and a lot less calories. Little did I know that I’d be tripping and without the aid of the LSD. Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below because I’m in the mood for sleep and I must ponder the question of the day – do elbows bleed?
Today, I must buckle down Winsocki and write the between-song patter for next week’s Gardenia show, and then finish the scene I’ve been working on for the script David Wechter and I are writing together. With that scene, we’ll be finished with what the screenwriting wags would call act one. I also have some errands and whatnot to do, hopefully I’ll pick up a package or three, and then I’m having dinner with our very own Miss Lauren Rubin, who wants to discuss many things, which I’m sure we will.
Can you believe that this is the final day of September? This month flew by, like a gazelle wearing a girdle. Well, tomorrow will be October and I’m hoping it will be a month filled with happiness, health, wealth, creativity, and all things bright and beautiful.
Tomorrow, we have a rehearsal for the Gardenia show, and I think that’s about it. Not sure about the meal o’ the day tomorrow. Not sure what’s happening on Saturday, but Sunday I’ll be attending the opening night of Leap of Faith at the Ahmanson Theater.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, jog, write patter, finish a scene, do errands and whatnot, and have a nice dinner at a restaurant to be determined (TBD, in Internet lingo). Today’s topic of discussion: We haven’t had a pasta day around these here parts in a ‘coon’s age. So, what are your favorite pasta dishes, and what is the best pasta dish you’ve ever had and where did you have it? And feel free to share any fun recipes. Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst we all ponder the eternally eternal question: Do elbows bleed?