Well, dear readers, yesterday was supposed to be a day of rest. The first hiccup in that scenario was when I woke up at three-thirty in the morning (I didn’t get to bed until one-thirty). I was feeling a little queasy and I couldn’t get back to sleep until almost five. Then the next thing I knew was the phone was ringing and it was eleven-thirty. So, despite the hiccup, I at least got eight non-consecutive hours of sleep. But I was quite groggy for the next couple of hours. Then I decided to continue the organization process on my own, just for a little while. Well, once I start something I cannot stop and I reorganized the entire CD closet and book room closet, which took about three hours to do the preliminary work. Then I went and had a sandwich and fries, after which I returned and continued to work for another three hours. I got the 200 CDs that were stacked on the floor of the closet put away and now you can actually walk in the closet again and see what’s what – that was a lot to accomplish. I also downloaded the new Kritzerland master, and listened to that. Then I got the DVDs that I’ll be bringing to Portland. They still show as 16×9 on my TV, but the gal who did them swears they’re flagged for 4.3, so I’ll be sending one of them to JMK so he can make sure it’s what they need. But the other little fixes were done and are fine now. Then I finally took a break and sat on my couch like so much fish.
Last night, I watched a motion picture on DVD entitled Toys In The Attic, starring Mr. Dean Martin, Miss Geraldine Page, Miss Wendy Hiller, and the beautiful Yvette Mimieux. I hadn’t really seen it since a sneak preview back before it came out. I think it was the Picwood Theater in Westwood, actually. I recall liking it very much but being very disturbed by one moment of extreme violence – very unusual for a mainstream film back then, and having to do with a razor blade and a face. Funnily, my memory of the scene has been faulty all these years – I thought one character had their throat slashed, when, in fact, it was another character that had their face slashed. I have to look at the play to see how faithful this adaptation is (play by Lillian Hellman, screenplay by James Poe), but I rather like the film – Martin is very good (although it’s too bad Jason Robards didn’t repeat his stage role), Miss Page is her usual theatrical and wonderful self, and Miss Mimieux does her insecure, slighty “off” housewife bit excellently. But the film belongs to Miss Hiller, who is just a wonderful actress and who mines everything there is to be mined from her character. There’s also a nice supporting turn by the then still beautiful Gene Tierney. The film is quite frank in its subject matter – a few years earlier and they probably only could have hinted at a major plot point. The score by George Duning is one of my favorites – Duning was a master and this is one of his best. The transfer would be very nice were it not another bungle by MGM/UA home video. Yes, it’s a DVDr and I have no problem with that. I do have a problem when it’s letterboxed scope in a 4.3 frame. In this day and age, it is nothing less than idiotic to put something like that out.
After that, I did some more clean up work in the book room (I’d removed a bunch of stuff that was on the floor of the closet and went through that, tossing what I didn’t need and organizing the rest into various and sundried piles. All of that will go out to the garage when we’re finished reorganizing out there. So, not much rest on my day of rest, but a lot done.
These here notes are quite boring. I fell asleep three times just typing them. I did this, I did that – who gives a flying Wallenda? But I’m too tired to be pithy so pith will have to come in tomorrow’s notes. I’m still overtired and I must get a good night’s sleep this evening, and since I have nothing in the morning I don’t have to get up early. If it continues to rain, that helps me sleep well.
Oh, yes, it rained. Well, kind of – a light drizzle would be more like it, but pretty consistent since about six o’clock. Well, perhaps the notes will perk up in the next section, so why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below because I really need my beauty sleep.
Today, I have just a few things to do – a jog, some errands and whatnot, and then a rehearsal for our next Gardenia show – those rehearsals are always fun and I’m looking forward to hearing our cast have their way with our songs. I also will try to come up with a tentative order before said cast gets here. After that, I’ll probably grab a bite to eat.
Tomorrow, the helper comes and we finish our reorganization project, and then things will be orderly and loverly, not necessarily in that order. The rest of the week is endlessly busy with meetings, rehearsals, and work sessions – and meals, of course – always meals. I have a work session with The Singer (we’re finally going through songs with her MD), and a meeting with Miss Linda Purl and Gregory Harrison, which I’m looking forward to.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, do a jog, do errands and whatnot, do an order, rehearse, and eat, always eat. Today’s topic of discussion: Toys In The Attic is set in the South in that peculiar Tennessee Williams sort of world. What are your favorite Southern-set plays and films, and what is your favorite Southern foodstuffs to eat. Where have you had your favorite Southern-style meal and what did it consist of? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, as I lay my weary head on my pillow and try to get a good night’s sleep so I can awaken with pith.