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September 4, 2010:

SHRIMP BOATS IS A’COMIN’

Bruce Kimmel Photograph bk's notes

Well, dear readers, all I have to say is shrimp. Yes, you heard it here, dear readers, all I have to say is shrimp. That is because yesterday shrimp boats were a’comin’ as I had a lunch meeting at a restaurant called Bubba Gump Shrimp Company, located on the Santa Monica Pier. Now, a restaurant whose sole existence is due to a movie is never going to be my idea of culinary heaven. However, I do love shrimp and the person with whom I was having lunch thought we should have an adventure and so said person chose Bubba Gump Shrimp Company. So, I drove the long drive to Santa Monica, got to the pier and was ready to turn and drive onto the pier and to the parking lot I’ve always parked in. So, imagine my surprise to find that in the thirteen years since I last visited the pier they no longer allow any cars on the pier and if you want to park there is a lot next to the pier and I have to say I had no idea how to actually get to that lot’s entrance. So, I drove over to Second Street, where there is a public parking structure with two free hours of parking, and happily I found a place right as I pulled in. We got right in (I gather that the wait can be quite long, but at twelve-twenty there was no wait at all). I ordered the Shrimper’s Heaven – coconut shrimp, fried shrimp, tempura shrimp, and chilled shrimp, with various and sundried dipping sauces, along with some fries. It was a lot of shrimp, but, you know, I was in a place called Bubba Gump Shrimp Company. I was really wanting to try the clam chowder, the hush puppies, and a few other items, and I was tempted by the double fried chicken breast, but that would have been venturing into Claim Jumper territory and I don’t eat like that right now. It was a fine assortment of shrimp, but not too much and although I ate it all up it was not too too filling. The best of them was the coconut shrimp. If I were to return I would try something different. But this is basically food for tourists and pricey food for tourists, I must say. It was all very adequate, and the service was very good, but I see no real reason to ever return. Since I’d brought two large checks and two contracts, my lunch partner brought me some homemade peanut butter and jelly cheesecake to eat at my leisure in the home environment. After lunch, I drove over to the home environment of Mr. Nick Redman and we exchanged some CDs. After that, I drove back to the San Fernando Valley, pretty much missing what I’m sure would soon become horrendous traffic. I drove to the mail place, picked up a couple of packages, and finally came home.

Of course, prior to all that, the CDs and the helper both arrived at nine and we had everything shipped by eleven-thirty, so that was great. After I came home, I did a mile and a half jog, did some work on the computer, got another casting idea for the next Gardenia show (I’ll make that call today), and then I finally sat on my couch like so much fish.

Last night, I watched the final two Red Riding movies. These are based on a quartet of books by David Peace – I’ve been told they didn’t shoot the second book (1977) for budgetary reasons and that nothing really happens in that book that isn’t explained in the final two. The second film, 1980, was just terrific. I especially liked its leading man, but all the actors are wonderful. As with the first film, some of the accents will drive you absolutely insane trying to understand what’s being said (there were times it was like listening to a foreign language film and I almost turned on the subtitles a few times), but you get used to it after a while. Of the three films, the second, for me, was the best looking and best directed. And it has a great ending. The third film, 1983, ties up everything from the first two. It’s a mesmerizing film, the actors, some new, some we’ve seen, are excellent, and the story is really compelling. However, it is sometimes maddening to watch because there are flashbacks involved only they don’t really make it clear all the time that you’re watching a flashback and it’s very confusing occasionally – you can finally figure it out, but I wish they’d made it a little clearer – it would really have helped, I think. The three films are not what you’d call pleasant entertainment, but if you like good, dark, crime films (think LA Confidential), with a lot of sickness and corruption, you might really like these three films. They’re all available on one Blu and Ray, and I’m sure the transfers replicate the look (which is very different between the three films) the three directors wanted. All three films have really good music, too, and I’ve ordered the CDs from amazon (actually CDRs – print on demand).

After that, I did some more work on the computer and puttered around the home environment feeling very shrimpy. Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below because shrimp boats is a’comin’ and I’m ready to get on board and hit the road to dreamland.

Today, I have to write liner notes, and I have some errands and whatnot to do, otherwise the day and evening are mine all mine. I’ll jog at some point, and find something to eat at some point, although whatever I eat will be very light, because I did manage to stuff my gaping hungry maw with peanut butter and jelly cheesecake last night.

Tomorrow, I’m really going to try and not do much, and just relax and be restful and catch up on some movie watching and CD listening. I also have to prepare everything for our new Kritzerland announcement on either Monday morning or Tuesday morning.

Monday is, of course, a holiday, but I think there’s something going on – a meeting maybe – something. I’ll have to check.

Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, do a jog, write liner notes, do errands and whatnot, eat, and relax. Today’s topic of discussion: What is the most riveting true-life crime story you’ve ever read about or watched on TV, or followed with interest, while they were happening. And what other true-life crime stories from other eras have fascinated you? I know most will say O.J. Simpson, but there are others I, for example, have followed with equal interest. Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I pretend I’m on Your Hit Parade singing shrimp boats is a’comin’.

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