Well, dear readers, yesterday I spilled some beans and today I think I’ll spill some more beans because one simply cannot have enough spilled beans in one’s home environment. Today’s spilled beans makes me very happy, because on this day we have actually begun work on a new Guy Haines album. Guy has been off playing tennis for the last five years – his second album, New Guy In Town, was Kritzerland’s first. And now, five years later, Guy is starting on his third album. It’s been a long time in development and not all the songs are quite chosen yet, but we began work on four of them yesterday. As always with Guy, there are going to be some very eclectic songs, some known, some not-so-well known but that are Guy favorites. There will be a few show tunes of course, at least one classic 1970s song and one classic 1960s song and one classic 1980s song. There will be one Brazilian song. We haven’t quite decided for sure, but there will probably be a Li’l Abner song, as Guy is determined to do one Li’l Abner song on every album. I’ll be working with Mr. Grant Geissman on the album and pianist John Boswell will be working with us, too. For certain songs, we will have a decent-sized band. I’m very excited to begin this album and the arrangements and basic tracks will be done over the next two or three months, at which point Guy will go into the studio to do his vocals. We’re hoping to release it somewhere around March or April. We have the title of the album but I don’t think we’ll reveal it or the song choices until we’re further along. Every time we do reveal things they suddenly show up elsewhere, so we’re playing it close to the vest for now. That was yesterday’s big news. The rest of the day was very nice – rainy and gray, and I got a lot done. I got up around nine-thirty and did some work on the computer, after which I did some errands and whatnot, and did a little pre-work on the four songs we’re starting with. I went to the framers and had some Plexiglas replaced on one of the pieces I got the other day – it was nicked and scratched and I don’t do nicked and scratched. Then they put some wire on another painting so I could actually hang it, and they fixed a buckled mat on another. Then I came picked up a couple of small packages and then came home, after which Mr. Grant Geissman arrived. First he did his brilliant picture hanging – he has an impeccable eye and did a great job. After that, we began cleaning the dining room, which is actually going to now function once again as a dining room rather than the Kritzerland shipping room. I couldn’t stand it anymore – boxes everywhere, packing supplies – it was just yucky. So, all boxes and supplies have moved out to the garage – that will continue today and then the dining room will look faboo. I have a beautiful antique sort of hutch (not a hutch, but I don’t really know what you call it) and it’s had a Pitney-Bowes postage machine on it, along with Kritzerland labels, postage labels, bills and other assorted junk. It is now completely clean and has just three really nice trinkets on it. When it’s all done I’ll take a photograph and share it with you. We also put a 100-watt bulb in the lamp so that there’s actual light now. Once we get the rest of the stuff out of there, it’s going to look really nice, especially the art that’s now finally up.
After that, I joined The Singer at the Studio Café. Our waitress was Tyler Olshansky, who appeared in the ensemble of our last Kritzerland show. I’m thinking of bringing back the ensemble for one number, if everyone’s available. We’ll see. We shared some wings and I had something I’ve never had before – a quesadilla with chorizo, eggs, green onions, mushrooms, cheese, guacamole, and sour cream. It wasn’t great, but it was tasty and good. We also shared some chocolate cake. And we talked through a lot of stuff – songs, ideas, schedules – in fact, we were there close to four hours. I then came home and it was too late to watch a motion picture so I just answered e-mails and walked around the house figuring out more reorganizing stuff.
Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below because it’s almost time to post these here notes and I must be up early.
Today, the helper will be here at nine to continue the reorganization of everything. By the time we’re finished, all Kritzerland stuff, save for little things, will be moved to the garage and environs – that will make me very happy. It’s taken a while to figure it all out but it’s all going to be great once we’re finished. After that, I have to jog (weather-permitting) and then I have to eat something very light – perhaps a visit to the Subway will be the ticket. I have reserved the evening to watch motion pictures on Blu and Ray.
Tomorrow, we will be shipping CDs – we have to get everything done by eleven-thirty, because I then have a Q&A to do at LACC. I’m looking forward to that and really have no idea what to expect. Friday, I’m attending the pre-show partay and then the opening night for Happy Days. I have to get all that information tomorrow so I know how early I have to be there and exactly where I’m going. I may get down there pre-rush hour and get something to eat, then go to the partay.
What the weekend holds I have no idea, other than doing some Kritzerland-related work and maybe having dinner with a friend on Saturday night.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, ship a few packages, organize, jog, eat, and then watch motion pictures. Today’s topic of discussion: It’s Ask BK Day, the day in which you get to ask me or any dear reader any old question you like and we get to give any old answer we like. Additionally, if you have any theater songs you’d especially like to hear Guy Haines sing, post your suggestions, as we still have a couple of slots to fill. So, let’s have loads of lovely questions and loads of lovely answers and loads of lovely suggestions and loads of lovely postings, shall we, as I hit the road to dreamland.