Well, dear readers, I’m dreaming of a White Christmas, just like the ones I used to know. Well, actually, the only time I’ve known a White Christmas was back in 1969 when I lived in Brooklyn. And I may have been in New York on a couple of other occasions near Christmas. But mostly I’ve known sunny and blue Christmases, blue meaning the color of the sky and not the emotion associated with “blue.” Yes, I’m dreaming of a White Christmas, just like the ones I used to know but didn’t really know. I’m not quite in the Christmas swing of things, but will be soon. No, I’m in the got to get these last two Kritzerland releases of 2010 done and finished so we can announce them next Monday swing of things. And you know, it don’t mean a thing if it ain’t got that swing – doo wa doo wa do wa doo wa. I’m very musical right now, aren’t I? I have, in fact, not stopped listening to music in so long – trying to catch up on CDs, plus the endless listening to the upcoming Kritzerland titles. The last few days have been a scramble to put finishing touches on liner notes and track titles and credits for the two new releases, and I’m also trying to finish two other releases, which are Paramount titles, and which will therefore have a longer approvals process – those will be coming in early 2011 and they are both incredible Holy Grail releases. The problem has been that we’ve got to have everything approved, package-wise, before everyone goes on Christmas vacation on Friday. But, we’re close now – one of the releases has already been approved, and I hope to have the other one submitted today or tomorrow morning at the latest. Once these are announced I may actually be able to take a few days off to clear my head and prepare for the busy beginning of 2011, including starting to write a new book.
Yesterday was a fun little day. I got up early and picked up the source material for one of the new releases – I put it into iTunes then shipped it via overnight to the mastering guy. I had a quick sandwich and onion rings, then picked up one small package (still no sign of the package that should have been here on Saturday), then I did some errands and whatnot, and then the helper arrived and we did our Costco run, mostly buying foodstuffs for the Bukowsical release party. Then we headed over to the Burbank Moose Lodge (yes, you read that right) and set up all the food. We had pinwheel sandwiches, chicken salad, shrimp salad, shrimp cocktail, rolls, pumpkin pie, pecan pie, pound cake, Greek pasta salad, veggies and fruit, and the authors brought all the liquid refreshment. When we arrived some of the cast was there rehearsing, including my pal Lauren Rubin. At seven, guests began arriving, including more cast members, our very own Mr. Grant Geissman, Adryan Russ and her ever-lovin’ Dale, The Singer, Shannon Cudd (she was Donna in the Chance The Brain From Planet X), writer Lissa Levin and her ever-lovin’ Dan Guntzelman, editor Marshall Harvey, quite a few LACC alums (the composer of Bukowsical went to LACC), including my pal, writer Phil Kellard. There were lots of other folks, too, but it’s so late right now I can’t really remember names. Lots of food was eaten, lots of wine was consumed, and the cast did three songs from the show. We sold a few CDs, and it was nice to see everyone. I bailed after two hours. All in all, it was a fun evening.
Then I came home, did more work on our releases, and had to write an addendum to the notes of one of the releases – one of those weird scenarios where the LP release of the score had both a stereo and mono version – only the stereo version was really mono (maybe with a little bad electronic processing). So, I had to do an explanation of that – similar situation when we did the release of Tom Jones.
Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below because it is late, and I need to get some semblance of beauty sleep.
Today, the helper is coming and we have several things to attend to, including a bunch of shipping. After that, I have a lunch with some film score enthusiasts, and that’s always fun. We’re going to some restaurant I’ve never heard of and am hoping for the best. After that, I have to do some lyric writing for the Linda Purl/Gregory Harrison act – some special material.
Tomorrow, I have a lunch, then more organizing of the Linda/Greg show. Friday is busy, as that’s the day that everything must be done for our two new releases. I have a dinner on either Friday or Saturday night, I think, just not sure which. And on Saturday, a rehearsal with Linda, Greg, and John Boswell. Then we announce on Monday and hopefully we will get a LOT of orders for these two new titles, both of which are great, so that we can send Kritzerland out on a high. Then, hopefully the first two releases of 2011 will start Kritzerland on an equal high.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, ship, eat lunch with some film score enthusiasts, jog, do errands and whatnot, hopefully pick up an errant and truant package, write some lyrics, and then relax and watch a motion picture on Blu and Ray entitled Micmacs. 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. So, let’s have loads of lovely questions and loads of lovely answers and loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland where I’ll hopefully be dreaming of a White Christmas.