Well, dear readers, it is pouring rain as I write these here notes. Yes, you heard it here, dear readers, it is pouring rain, but I, BK, am inside and cozy and warm, listening to the rain on the roof go pit-pit-a-pat. There was a time when I would sometimes go out in the rain and get soaking wet, walking here and there, but those days are gone because, well, because I am older and wiser, not necessarily in that order. When I was just a little boy, though, walking or running in the rain in my yellow galoshes was just the ticket. Maybe if it’s raining today, I’ll do it just because I can. Of course, I don’t have yellow galoshes anymore or any galoshes – I don’t even know if they make such things as galoshes and I certainly have no clew what insane person made up the word galoshes. Wikipedia has an entry on galoshes but to my mind there is nothing conclusive in the history section. I believe the term was coined when someone caught cold in the rain – they had no shelter and they just stood there getting drenched. To protect his nice shoes, this someone found some plastic material that was lying nearby and he put the plastic material over his nice shoes. Someone walked by and noticed what he’d done and pointed at the plastic and asked what that was about. Just as he was about to answer, he sneezed loudly and the passerby mistook the sneeze for the word galoshes. You heard it here first. What the HELL am I talking about? Don’t I have notes to write and a dreamland to hit? I do and I shall, not necessarily in that order. Yesterday was a bit of a hit or miss kind of day. I got up quite late, which was quite nice and then I moseyed on over to Amoeba to buy (or re-buy) the DVD of a title we’re issuing on Kritzerland. Happily they had one for only six bucks. I used up the rest of my credit and got several nice Blu and Rays. After that, I went and had some eggs and a toasted bagel and cream cheese (the cream cheese wasn’t toasted, only the bagel was toasted). After that, I came home. I did a little edit list for that upcoming project and prepared a package with all the materials for the mastering guy. I also made some adjustments on the liner notes – someone volunteered to write them and I just cleaned up some stuff. Then I sat on my couch like so much fish.
Last night, I watched a motion picture on Blu and Ray entitled The Secret In Their Eyes, a Spanish film from Spain and the winner of Best Foreign Film at this year’s Oscars. If you ignore the word “thriller” which is plastered all over the box, I think you will enjoy this film very much – certainly I did. In fact, I thought it was terrific, with great performances, a wonderful script, and mostly excellent direction, save for a few times when the director got a little too arty for me. It’s a mystery story, certainly, and it’s compelling and involving and one isn’t quite sure where it’s going until the very end, which was fun. The transfer is splendidly splendid and the film has a very good musical score. Highly recommended by the likes of me.
After that, I loaded several Sondheim CDs into my iTunes and began choosing material for our January show. This is going to be a difficult one – a lot of this stuff is so orchestral in nature, which is what I like about the arrangements we did, but I suppose we’ll make them work. I want to do a few of the real rarities (surprisingly, there are still several songs that have only been recorded on these albums), and we’ll include a few of the more known songs. But I have to find the right balance of male/female things and I don’t want to do too many duets. I am going to have a female backup chorus, and, if they’re up for it, I’m going to have them learn that funny Maguire Sisters version of Getting Married Today that’s the hidden track on The Stephen Sondheim Album. I’d say I have at least ten songs chosen, but I have several question marks and I’ll decide on those over the next few days.
Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below whilst we all say the word galoshes in unison – on the count of three: One, two, three – GALOSHES! Splendid.
Today, the helper and I will be shipping a few things and taking possession of the Bukowsical CDs, although not shipping them until the fixed replacement discs come in, probably on Thursday with Carrie. Then I’ll eat something light but amusing and then I’ll do errands and whatnot and hopefully pick up the errant and truant packages, and since we haven’t heard a peep from the eBay guy, I may escalate to a claim so they’ll contact him personally and tell him that his behavior is unacceptable – and, if need be, they’ll get my money back. Then I’ve got to figure out the cast for January’s show – I’ve asked one guy so far and am waiting on his answer. Once I know about him, it will make it easier to cast Guy Two. The only gal that’s cast is, of course, Alet – I may let Juliana do it since her voice is right for several things. I had put a feeler out to a gal who sang on The Stephen Sondheim Album – I’ve always loved this girl’s voice and I have repeatedly tried to help her over the years, but I think she simply has some sort of non-ability to get out of her own way. I sent her an e-mail and the first question was how much money was there and would I be able to work around her schedule. I told her I didn’t think we should pursue it any further. I just don’t get people, but then, I don’t really have to.
Tomorrow I’m being taken for an early birthday luncheon by dear reader Jeanne, so that will be fun. Wednesday, I’m being taken for a late birthday dinner – don’t have a clew what I’m doing prior to that, probably just enjoying the day, and, if the rain has abated, definitely jogging. Thursday is hopefully a shipping day, Thursday night I have a non-birthday dinner with some film music fans, and Friday I think I may be having another birthday dinner.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, ship CDs, do errands and whatnot, and eat something light and amusing. Today’s topic of discussion: What was the first job you ever had? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland and perhaps dream of galoshes.