Well, dear readers, I had a long and winding day yesterday and I am still unwinding from the winding. Yes, you heard it here, dear readers, I am unwinding from the winding. Frankly, or even Georgely, the notes should already be posted, and yet here I sit like so much fish, unwinding from the winding. The day started out quite weirdly when I woke up at six in the morning feeling quite nauseous. I just stayed in bed, remained calm as a cucumber and slept on and off for the next three hours. By the time a telephonic call woke me up at nine, I felt much better. I had a nice breakfast with the producer of the old Fox show, Totally Hidden Video, with whom I worked for two and a half years. He had two associates with him, and I later found out that the breakfast was also to discuss what he’s working on and how I could potentially be involved, either with teaching a couple of master classes (which I’m always happy to do) or in other ways. We shall see what we shall see. After that, I came home, answered e-mails, but never had time to do the jog. In fact, I was on the telephonic device with AT&T trying to get them to do the right thing with a few days of pro-rated charges on my new plan – I simply was not willing to pay them, and they finally removed them from the bill. Then I did a couple of quick errands and whatnots, picked up a couple of packages and no mail (this week’s important envelope should have been there but wasn’t – hopefully it will be today), and then had to hurry home for rehearsal. I had a very sweet e-mail waiting for me from a nice lady in Canada who saw my interview on ABC News and who told me that even though she had no idea who I was before watching it, that I was an inspiration to her – and she’s already bought the book. It’s so nice to hear that sort of thing. Then our musical director and Susanne Blakeslee showed up and we began our rehearsal. Today was my day to talk performance, and I just gave a few little suggestions here and there – and everyone is just wonderful to work with and incredibly talented. One of our ladies was ninety minutes late due to a doctor’s appointment running long, and then she surprised me with the news that she’s going to New York on Monday for a Tuesday audition and then flying home that night. Of course, Tuesday is our one and only stumble-through day so that really throws a wrench into that – we’ll deal with it, but I am really not going through this again. She asked me if I wanted to replace her, and I said that the Friday before the Wednesday show is not a good time to make that suggestion because, no, I have no time to find someone else, teach them four songs, arrange for them to work with the musical director and the co-star with whom that track has a duet and group number. So, hopefully her plane will be on time and she’ll be back Tuesday evening and will be at our sound check at three on Wednesday, at which point we’ll run all her numbers, including her duet and group number. Believe me, I understand that the audition is important, but these are not off-the-cuff shows we’re doing and we all take them very seriously because a) people are paying and they deserve a top-notch evening of entertainment, and b) there are important people who show up. So, hopefully we’ll get through it fine.
After the rehearsal, which, of course, ran quite late, I finally went out for my dinner meeting with the singer. We went to Marie Callender’s and I once again had the salmon with a small side salad. This time the salmon wasn’t nearly as good, which is the problem with restaurants like Marie Callender’s – no consistency. What was good, however, was the coconut cream pie – in fact, it was faboo. The singer and I went over her long song list – we starred certain songs, put question marks next to others, and nuked some completely. But something was missing – it took me a few minutes to put my finger on it, but once I figured it out we started tossing out ideas and as song ideas bounced back and forth I suddenly saw a way to make a really great sequence – a medley of great songs – and it was so much fun and so exciting to just be on that wavelength – it’s my favorite way to work. So, now she’ll begin gathering all the sheet music and I’ll begin putting that medley together – it will probably consist of six songs done partially and in clever ways and then end with a full version of a ballad.
After dinner, the singer went off to do what she does, and I sat on my couch like so much fish, too full and too tired to jog. I did watch an hour of a motion picture on DVD entitled Knock on Wood, starring Mr. Danny Kaye and written and directed by Norman Panama and Melvin Frank, who would, a couple of years later, write and direct Kaye’s masterpiece, The Court Jester. Knock on Wood’s first hour has a lot of plot and some clever stuff, but I understand that all the really fun stuff is coming up. So, I’ll finish that this very day.
Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below because I must go get my beauty sleep and finish unwinding from the winding.
Today, I really have no plans whatsoever. So, I’ll sleep as late as I can, I’ll watch a motion picture on Blu and Ray that happens to contain the score to our next Kritzerland release, and once watched, I shall write the liner notes for said release. I have some errands and whatnot to do, and hopefully I’ll have a package or three and an important envelope to pick up. I’ll jog, I’ll eat something light, but fun, and I’ll just relax.
Tomorrow, I’m seeing the opening night of Leap of Faith and then attending its opening night partay, so I’m sure that will be fun, at least that’s the plan. I’ll do down there about four-thirty (curtain is at seven-thirty), pick up the tickets and then go somewhere for a leisurely dinner.
And then a new week begins and it’s a busy one, filled with meetings, meals, rehearsals, work sessions, and the Gardenia show.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, do a jog, watch some motion pictures, begin some liner notes, do some errands and whatnot, and then relax. Today’s topic of discussion: What is it, fish? What are your all-time favorite what is it, fish dishes? What’s the most unusual fish dish you ever ate. What’s the absolute best fish dish you ever ate, and have you ever been fishing, caught your own fish, cleaned your own fish, and cooked and eaten your own fish? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I go finish unwinding from the winding.